Macklemore is standing firm as the fallout from his ‘Free Palestine’ declaration continues to intensify.
The rapper ignited debate while opening for Ed Sheeran at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, where he used his set to voice support for Palestinians before performing protest track ‘Hind’s Hall.’
Since then, calls for his removal from Sheeran’s ‘Loop Tour’ have mounted, Pnk has entered the conversation, and her apparent stance has sparked a backlash of its own.
Now, Macklemore has responded.
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The drama widened after P!nk reshared an Instagram post from advocacy group StopAntisemitism criticizing Macklemore’s performance and calling for apologies and refunds for concertgoers.
Although the ‘So What’ singer added no commentary of her own, the repost was widely interpreted as support for the criticism and subsequently drew heated reaction online. She later shared a string of pointed Instagram Stories, including messages about not needing to be liked by everyone. TMZ was among the outlets to chronicle the exchange.
Against the backdrop of the escalating debate, Macklemore shared footage of his speech and made clear that he is not retreating from its central message.
“Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial.”
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During the original performance, the 43-year-old stressed that criticism of the Israeli government was not intended as criticism of Jewish people and said his message centered on “peace, love” and equal treatment for all.
The Israeli-American Council has launched a petition calling for Macklemore to be removed from Sheeran’s remaining US dates, arguing that the concert should not have been used to advance a political message. Supporters of the rapper, meanwhile, have defended his use of the stage to advocate for Palestinian civilians. The Los Angeles Times reports that Sheeran has yet to publicly address the controversy.
For his part, Macklemore’s latest words suggest his stance isn’t changing.
