Home · Entertainment · Oct 26 archive
Macklemore Kicks Off 'Free Palestine' Tour in Dublin
· Confirmed
In Short: American rapper Macklemore kicked off his 'Free Palestine' tour in Dublin, Ireland, on October 26, 2023, with a sold-out show at the city's 3Arena, according to the BBC (United Kingdom) and RTE.ie (Ireland).
American rapper Macklemore kicked off his 'Free Palestine' tour in Dublin, Ireland, on October 26, 2023, with a sold-out show at the city's 3Arena, according to the BBC (United Kingdom) and RTE.ie (Ireland). The concert, which drew up to 13,000 attendees, featured a lineup of surprise guests including Irish folk band Beoga, singer-songwriter Lina Makoul, and M1 of Dead Prez, as reported by Billboard.
The controversy surrounding Macklemore's tour began when he was removed from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour in early September after calling for 'Free Palestine' during a performance in New Jersey, as detailed by the BBC (United Kingdom) and The Hollywood Reporter. Macklemore has since expressed regret for the fallout, apologizing to fans and emphasizing his commitment to the humanitarian issue.
According to the BBC (United Kingdom), Macklemore described the October 7 attacks in Gaza as 'horrific' and called the situation 'unjustifiable and disproportionate.' He also stated that his comments were not intended as an attack on Jewish people, as reported by the BBC (United Kingdom).
The rapper used the Dublin show to call for unity and support for Palestine, telling the audience, 'Those two words are so threatening to some people. They would rather silence those two words than confront what they actually mean. Freedom that requires another person’s oppression isn’t freedom at all,' as quoted by Inmusicblog, Newsweek, and Variety.
Hozier, Kneecap, and Mark Ruffalo supported Macklemore's message, with Hozier also drawing attention to 55 students in Gaza awaiting visa approval to study in Ireland, as reported by the Times of India.
All proceeds from the tour are going to organizations supporting Palestine and the Palestinian movement, according to organizers, as reported by RTE.ie (Ireland), Thepostathens, and Stereogum.
The tour continues with shows in Paris on October 29 and London on October 30, as confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter.
While the BBC (United Kingdom) reported that Macklemore's comments renewed pressure on Sheeran, who was criticized for continuing his tour after Macklemore's removal, the Hindustan Times (India) focused on Macklemore's $1 million donation to support Palestinians, matched by YouTube star Ms Rachel.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and the Hindustan Times (India) both reported that Macklemore's tour is a platform for humanitarian aid and solidarity, with the rapper emphasizing his moral obligation to support the cause.
Despite the differing focuses of the reports, all outlets agree that Macklemore's 'Free Palestine' tour is a significant event that highlights the rapper's commitment to the humanitarian issue and his support for Palestine.
What this adds
WarpBeat previously reported that Macklemore launched his 'Free Palestine' tour in Dublin, Ireland, on October 26, 2023, following his controversial removal from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour.
Background
Macklemore launched his 'Free Palestine' tour in Dublin, Ireland, on October 26, 2023, following his controversial removal from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour.
What's confirmed
- The controversy began when Macklemore, performing as the opening act for Sheeran at a concert in New Jersey in early September, said: "A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so that I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very, very dear to my heart: Free Palestine."
- “ Those two words are so threatening to some people. They would rather silence those two words than confront what they actually mean. Freedom that requires another person’s oppression isn’t freedom at all, ” Macklemore told the audience, framing the tour as a platform for humanitarian aid and solidarity.
- His comments also renew pressure on Sheeran, who Antonoff said should have canceled his tour rather than continue after Macklemore was dropped.
- All proceeds of the tour are going to organisations supporting Palestine and the Palestinian movement, according to organisers.
What's still developing
- He said he had made "mistakes" handling the fallout, apologising to fans and taking a stand on the Israel-Gaza conflict, which he said was "a humanitarian issue".
- Tickets for the Dublin show sold out and dozens of concertgoers were queueing at the venue hours before its doors were opened.
- Published 26 Oct 2026, 23:22 UTC Updated 26 Oct 2026, 23:28 UTC Earlier on this story 24 Oct: Macklemore: ‘I say free Palestine’ as he kicks off a new tour | Music Photo : Andreas Wolf 01, CC0 · Cropped for layout This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets.
- The Philadelphia show marked the British singer-songwriter's first return to the stage since his opening acts and guest band dropped out of his global Loop Tour citing his venues' censorship of commentary about the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
- Educator talks of ‘moral obligation’ and urges ‘every wealthy white celebrity’ to make similar donation Educator talks of ‘moral obligation’ and urges ‘every wealthy white celebrity’ to make similar donation YouTube star Ms Rachel has said she is matching rapper Macklemore’s $1m donation to organizations supporting Palestinians, calling on other public figures to follow suit.
- As we reported, Sheeran was scheduled to play Gillette last Friday and Saturday before both shows were ultimately canceled because of severe weather.
- To recap, on Sept. 14 Macklemore was dropped from the remainder of Sheeran’s U.S. “Loop” tour after he said “free Palestine” on stage and gave political speeches over two concerts at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Sept. 4 and 5.
- Though he has expressed solidarity with Palestine for years, Antonoff said that he has “felt way more emboldened to say” “Free Palestine” in public and on stage since the Macklemore debacle.
- Related Macklemore Faces Petition to Leave Ed Sheeran Tour After 'Free Palestine' Plea Second Festivalgoer Death Reported at Burning Man 2026 North West Headlines First Chicago Solo Show With Ye and Kim Kardashian Cheering Her On Before Joel became one of pop and rock’s most recognizable singer-songwriters, he and Small played together in the Hassles, a Long Island band that released two albums in the late 1960s.
- Jack Antonoff said Ed Sheeran should have just canceled “the whole fucking tour” instead of caving to pressure to boot Macklemore over the rapper’s comments on the Israel-Gaza war.
- There will be no opening act and no Beoga, the Irish band that once joined him midway through the show.
- Sheeran said that he's " not complicit," then cried about it onstage.