Macklemore’s full ‘Free Palestine’ speech that got him removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour

Everyone is outpouring support for Macklemore after he was removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour, and this is the full “Free Palestine” speech that got him dropped. 

The rapper, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, was one of the support acts for Sheeran’s Loop Tour. However, he was removed by businessman Bob Kraft, who owns the Gillette Stadium near Boston where they were due to play next, for a pro-Palestine speech he made on 4th September. 

During his performance at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, he said: “I’ve been trying to figure out a way to say this all day. One of the reasons why I wanted to come on this tour was because I wanted to stand up here on stages and stadiums across America and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine. I said, Free Palestine. I want those words to be loud and clear, so the people from Gaza, all the way to the occupied West Bank, know that we have not forgotten them.

Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial. pic.twitter.com/BOJ9xMoIZn

— Macklemore (@macklemore) September 7, 2026

“And this next song was inspired by the bravery of Columbia University students who led an encampment movement that mobilised the entire world; open up hearts, myself included, so thank you to those students that risked their diplomas, that risked their tuition, that risked their scholarships, that stood up and said, no. CUAD students, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Jewish Voices for Peace. Thank you, guys.

Macklemore continued: “To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you. My message is for peace; love for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality. So I say Free Palestine, I say Free Lebanon, I say Free Cuba, I say Free Congo, Free Sudan, I say Free all people in America living in fear of this terrorist organisation, ICE. None of us will be free until we are all free.”

Most Read

Celebrities are calling out Ariana Grande’s team for ‘absolutely appalling’ petal music video

The internet never forgets: The biggest male celeb nude leaks ever, and how they responded

Love Island’s over, so here’s every 2026 couple’s relationship status and who’s already split

Bob Kraft claimed that Macklemore’s speech was “deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community,” and he “determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line”. 

After lots of backlash, Sheeran also shared a statement on Tuesday and claimed it was the “promoter’s decision” to remove Macklemore, not his own. He added: “I am not complicit. I have my personal views on the devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care.”

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Ed Sheeran (@teddysphotos)

For more like this, like The Tab on Facebook. 

Featured image credit: Macklemore/Twitter