Macklemore announced the “Free Palestine Tour,” billed as “Macklemore and Friends,” with its first three shows in Dublin on Oct. 26, Paris on Oct. 29 and London on Oct. 30. All proceeds will benefit groups supporting Palestinians; U.S. dates are still to come.
The announcement follows Macklemore’s removal from the remaining eight dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after his remarks about Israel and Palestine. Macklemore said Sheeran told him Robert Kraft and other stadium owners threatened to bar Sheeran from their venues if Macklemore stayed on the tour. Kraft cited concerns about providing a platform for hate speech; Sheeran said Macklemore’s contract was with the promoter, not him.
Macklemore said he would donate the $1 million he earned from Sheeran’s tour to organizations supporting Palestinians and invited Kraft to match it. Kraft later said Sheeran had asked him to match a $2 million donation for aid in the region.
