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Macklemore Donates $1M to Palestinian Aid Groups
Confirmed
In Short: The rapper is donating his earnings from Ed Sheeran's tour to organizations providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
Macklemore announced he would donate his $1 million earnings from Ed Sheeran's tour to organizations providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians, following his removal from the tour.
The controversy began when Macklemore called for 'Free Palestine' and showed images of Gaza devastation during concerts in New Jersey.
Macklemore's comments drew criticism from Jewish groups, leading to pressure from venue owners to drop him from the tour.
In a statement, Sheeran said the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour promoter, not by him personally.
Macklemore's donation is aimed at redirecting attention from the controversy to the humanitarian crisis faced by Palestinians.
What's confirmed
- Benjamin Hammond Haggery, better known as Macklemore, opened for Sheeran for the first two U.S. shows on the Loop Tour on Sept. 4 and 5 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
- He was slated to open for the remaining eight of Sheeran's 10 U.S. shows, but announced in a lengthy Instagram post on Monday that he'd been dropped from the tour.
- How Macklemore's 'Free Palestine' stance derailed Ed Sheeran's entire tour Macklemore blamed his removal on Kraft, claiming Kraft said Macklemore would not be allowed onstage and rallied other stadium owners to threaten to cancel scheduled concerts if he was not taken off the bill.
- Beoga, an Irish folk band, had been performing with Sheeran for part of his set since the tour began in January in New Zealand.
- Macklemore's onstage remarks at MetLife — including chanting "Free Palestine" and expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank — drew criticism from pro-Israel groups, including a petition calling for his removal.
- Remaining supporting acts quit Ed Sheeran tour amid backlash over Macklemore ousting The Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe were scheduled to replace Macklemore as the opening acts on Sheeran's remaining U.S.
- Finneas, the American singer and close collaborator of his sister Billie Eilish, was scheduled to open for Sheeran on four of his South American dates.
- The promoter, Messina Touring Group, also hasn't responded to requests for comment.
What's still developing
- The announcements came hours after Sheeran said he would not be drawn into a public debate over Gaza, and stressed he was not responsible for Macklemore being removed from the tour.
- How being music's Mr Nice Guy contributed to biggest crisis of Ed Sheeran's career Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran tour after 'Free Palestine' speech "Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine," Sheeran said on Instagram.
- In his statement, external, Sheeran said he had spoken to the venues "at length all week to try and build a bridge" - but the promoters, Messina Touring Group, had ultimately pulled the plug.
- Ed Sheeran and Macklemore, pictured in 2014, have been friends for 13 years, the rapper said in his statement on Monday While the star said he was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine" and that the "suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy", he also attempted to explain his decision to keep political issues at arm’s length.
- Sheeran added that, “as with all my support acts", Macklemore had been allowed to choose his own setlist.
- The Israeli American Council launched a petition demanding his removal from the tour; while campaign group StopAntisemitism said the musician had ambushed fans with propaganda - a claim that was amplified by pop star Pink, who reposted it on Instagram.
- After days of press coverage, Macklemore announced on Monday that he had been dropped from the line-up.
- Will Ed Sheeran cancel his tour as support acts quit?