The backlash has extended to calls for Macklemore to be removed from the remaining dates of Sheeran’s US tour
Macklemore sparked controversy during his opening set for Ed Sheeran at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium after calling for a “Free Palestine” and performing his pro-Palestinian protest song Hind’s Hall.
The rapper took the stage on Friday, September 4, 2026, as one of the opening acts for Sheeran’s concert in East Rutherford, New Jersey. During his set, Macklemore addressed the ongoing war in Gaza and told the audience that he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten.
“I believe that every human being walking on this earth deserves exactly the same freedom,” Macklemore told the crowd, according to reports. He then called out, “Free Palestine, free Cuba, the Congo, Sudan and Iran,” while also criticising US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Macklemore subsequently performed Hind’s Hall, his 2024 protest song inspired by pro-Palestinian campus demonstrations in the US. Footage from Gaza and images from pro-Palestinian protests were displayed on screens behind him during the performance.
The performance was met with cheers from sections of the crowd, but it also prompted an angry reaction from some Israeli and Jewish concertgoers, who said they had not expected the concert to become a platform for political messaging.
Some attendees described feeling uncomfortable and upset by the performance, with one Israeli concertgoer telling local media that it was “very triggering and blatant”. Another attendee said she and her children felt “unwanted”, while reports said some young Jewish attendees left the stadium in tears.
The backlash has also extended to calls for Macklemore to be removed from the remaining dates of Sheeran’s US tour. The Israeli-American Council launched a petition urging Sheeran and his management to drop the rapper from future shows, accusing him of using the opening set to promote anti-Zionist and antisemitic messaging. Those accusations are disputed and should be distinguished from Macklemore’s stated criticism of the Israeli government and his support for Palestinian rights.
Macklemore has been an outspoken supporter of Palestine since the beginning of Israel’s assault on Gaza. He released Hind’s Hall in May 2024, with proceeds from the song directed towards humanitarian efforts. The song criticises Israel’s actions in Gaza and expresses solidarity with pro-Palestinian student protesters.
The performance at MetLife Stadium was not a surprise appearance. Macklemore had been announced as one of Sheeran’s opening acts for several dates on the US leg of the Loop Tour, meaning his participation was part of the scheduled concert programme.
The controversy continued into Saturday, September 5, when Macklemore reportedly again used his opening set at MetLife Stadium to say “Free Palestine” and perform Hind’s Hall.
As of September 6, Sheeran had not publicly commented on Macklemore’s remarks or the backlash surrounding the performances.
Macklemore’s appearance has consequently turned what was expected to be a major pop concert into a wider debate over political expression at live music events, with supporters praising his willingness to speak about Palestine and critics arguing that political campaigning has no place in an artist’s opening set.
