Macklemore Launches 'Free Palestine' Tour in Dublin After Ed Sheeran Fallout

Macklemore kicked off his "Free Palestine" tour in Dublin with sold-out shows featuring surprise guests Hozier and Kneecap, and even Ed Sheeran's backing band. The tour comes after Macklemore was removed as an opener from Sheeran's tour for making pro-Palestinian statements onstage.

During the first show, Macklemore dedicated the concert to "love and liberation," addressing the controversy by noting that "those two words are so threatening to some people." He also stated that proceeds from the tour would benefit organizations supporting Palestinians. The event saw attendees displaying Palestinian flags and keffiyehs, underscoring the solidarity expressed by the rapper and his audience.

This development follows criticism from producer Jack Antonoff, who publicly urged artists like Ed Sheeran to "stand the f*** up" and not allow billionaires to censor their actions, suggesting Sheeran should have canceled his tour or performed for free rather than remove Macklemore.