Overview
- Macklemore used opening sets at Ed Sheeran’s MetLife Stadium shows on Friday and Saturday to lead chants of “Free Palestine,” wear a keffiyeh, perform his protest song “Hind’s Hall,” and show footage from Gaza to an audience reported at more than 80,000.
- The Israeli‑American Council launched a petition on Sunday asking Ed Sheeran, the tour’s management and promoter Live Nation to remove Macklemore and to clarify whether his speech and visuals were approved in advance.
- Advocacy groups and social accounts such as StopAntisemitism amplified video of the performances and called for apologies and refunds, with several outlets and commentators framing the set as political propaganda directed at Jewish concertgoers.
- Ed Sheeran has not issued a public response and Macklemore remains listed as an opener for upcoming Loop Tour dates, leaving venues and promoters to decide whether to set or enforce limits on political content.
- Macklemore’s actions build on a record of pro‑Palestinian activism since October 2023, including the 2024 release of “Hind’s Hall,” and the episode highlights a broader debate over where to draw the line on political speech at large commercial concerts.