Macklemore, the opening act for Ed Sheeran’s U.S. “+ – = ÷ x Tour,” makes an onstage “Free Palestine” plea during his set at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Friday night, and the remarks lead to backlash and a petition calling for his removal from Sheeran’s tour.
According to multiple outlets, Macklemore tells the audience he wants people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they have not been forgotten, and he follows the statement with a performance of his protest song “Hind’s Hall.” The petition is reported to have been launched after the appearance, with one outlet stating it is connected to advocacy groups seeking action from Sheeran.
Outlets differ in emphasis on who is behind the petition and how the incident is framed, but all describe the core sequence: Macklemore delivers a “Free Palestine” message and then performs “Hind’s Hall” while opening for Sheeran, after which calls grow for him to be removed from the tour. Ed Sheeran’s team does not appear in the reports to have issued a specific response at the time of publication.
