Macklemore (real name Ben Haggerty) announced that he intends to donate one million dollars from his earnings from the Ed Sheeran tour to Palestinian support organizations. This action comes after he was removed from the Ed Sheeran tour due to his public support for Palestine.
Macklemore's Invitation to Robert Kraft
Macklemore also invited Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, to match this amount. Kraft had told Ed Sheeran that if Macklemore remained as a supporting artist on this tour, he would stop the tour at Gillette.
Macklemore wrote in his Instagram post: "In light of the events that have occurred in the past 48 hours, I want to draw attention to the people of Palestine who continue to be killed and live under military occupation." He also announced that he will donate all his net earnings from this tour to six different organizations that directly support the people of Palestine. These organizations include the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund, Heal Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, the National UNRWA Committee in the United States, and Angara.
Artists' Reactions to Macklemore's Removal
Macklemore's removal from this tour led several other artists who were scheduled to support Ed Sheeran to also withdraw from the tour. Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Ro accompanied Ed Sheeran's supporting group, Beoga, in deciding to withdraw from the tour. Finneas wrote in his Instagram post: "Artists should not remain silent when speaking out for the oppressed. I have decided to step back from my future engagements with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people."
Ed Sheeran stated in a statement that Macklemore's removal from the tour was not his decision and was related to the tour organizer. He acknowledged the pain and suffering on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict and mentioned that he was informed that if Macklemore remained in the program, the concert venues would cancel it.
Sheeran also acknowledged that Macklemore had a contract for this tour with the organizer and that he never wanted his fans, who had planned to attend, to be disappointed.
Robert Kraft also stated in a lengthy statement that he does not want to provide "a platform for hate speech" and criticized "Macklemore's recent actions and the content shared from the stage."
Macklemore expressed hope in a statement released on September 16 that he would draw attention to "parents taking their children to dysfunctional hospitals" and shared the story of Mohammad Al-Zainati, a 15-year-old who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on September 15.
He also said: "Writing a check is one of the least expensive forms of solidarity for me. I do this because I can and because these organizations are doing work while much of the world is debating. But humanitarian aid alone cannot solve the conditions that create this need. This is a man-made injustice, and I believe it requires immediate political change."
In closing his statement, Macklemore said: "When the news cycle moves on, as it will, you should not move on with it. Free Palestine."
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