From Billboard · Hannah Dailey · · 1m 10s
Macklemore Launches Free Palestine Tour
Macklemore announces Free Palestine Tour to raise Gaza aid funds after being dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour.
In brief
Macklemore announces Free Palestine Tour to raise Gaza aid funds after being dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour. Macklemore starts Free Palestine Tour in late October to fund Gaza aid following removal from Ed Sheeran's tour due to Palestinian advocacy. Originally reported by Billboard.
Macklemore Announces Free Palestine Tour
Macklemore announced a Free Palestine Tour starting late October in Dublin, Paris, and London to raise funds for Gaza.
“Because of how quickly all of this has come together, a lot of the conversations, schedules and details are still being worked out”
Macklemore Drops From Ed Sheeran Tour
Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour after backlash over his Gaza advocacy demonstrations.
“the U.S. promoter for Sheeran’s Loop Tour removed Macklemore as one of the trek’s openers”
Macklemore's Motivation for Tour
Macklemore says collective awakening around Palestinian liberation and billionaire censorship efforts drive his tour.
“If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years”
Macklemore on Artist Platform
Macklemore states artists must use their platforms for activism, not just entertainment, during crises.
“Being apolitical during a genocide doesn’t work anymore”
Ed Sheeran's Response
Ed Sheeran spoke about Gaza crisis on stage after Macklemore was dropped, calling it a humanitarian issue.
“What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain”
Financial Commitments
Macklemore donated $1 million from his Loop Tour earnings to Gaza aid, and both artists pledged $2 million each.
“Macklemore donated the $1 million he made from his Loop Tour contract to Palestinian aid”
Tour Ticket Details
Free Palestine Tour tickets go on presale Monday, Sept. 28, at 10 a.m. local time via Macklemore’s website.
“Tickets to the Free Palestine Tour will go on presale at 10 a.m. local time on Monday (Sept. 28) via registration on Macklemore’s website”
The headline
Macklemore starts Free Palestine Tour in late October to fund Gaza aid following removal from Ed Sheeran's tour due to Palestinian advocacy.
