Macklemore reveals his Free Palestine tour sold-out 'IMMEDIATELY' after controversial axing from Ed Sheeran's tour
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By CHRISTINE RENDÓN, US SENIOR REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
Macklemore has revealed his upcoming Free Palestine tour sold-out 'immediately' – after he announced the concert in response to getting cut from Ed Sheeran's tour over pro-Palestine comments made on stage.
'All three shows sold out immediately,' Macklemore revealed on Instagram on Wednesday.
'I’m honestly blown away. We put these shows together fast and in community, believing that musicians can stand in solidarity with Palestine, use the stage to raise funds and show what collective action can look like.'
Controversy erupted earlier this month when opening artist Macklemore made the remarks, leading to his removal from the remainder of Sheeran's shows.
In response, all of Sheeran's opening acts – Finneas, Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe, as well as his backing band Beoga – announced they would be leaving the tour in solidarity with the rapper and Palestine. Sheeran subsequently apologized to his fans over the handling of the row.
Macklemore then announced he would be embarking on a three-date 'Free Palestine' tour with artists who have 'used their stages to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, regardless of the consequences'.
Macklemore's upcoming Free Palestine tour sold-out 'immediately' after he announced the concert in response to getting kicked off Ed Sheeran's US tour for his pro-Palestine comments
The three concerts in Dublin, Paris and London will benefit 'organizations supporting Palestine and the Palestinian movement'
'All three shows sold out immediately,' Macklemore revealed on Instagram on Wednesday. 'I’m honestly blown away,' adding that the response shows what collective action can look like'
The 'Macklemore & Friends: Free Palestine' tour consists of concerts in Dublin, Paris and London.
The hitmaker declared on his Instagram post announcing the sold out events: 'When those in power try to silence our calls for liberation, art will always be a form of resistance.
'Dublin, Paris and London, thank you for showing up the way you did. The response to these shows is another reminder of how many people across the world are standing together for a free Palestine. Lineups coming soon. Can’t wait to be together.'
The first date in the Irish capital is scheduled for October 26 followed by the concerts in the French and British capital cities.
Macklemore previously shared that proceeds from the tour will 'benefit organisations supporting the Palestinian people and movement.'
Meanwhile, Sheeran addressed the backlash around Macklemore's axing at his Philadelphia concert on September 19.
The British musician told his fans that he'd just been through 'one of the worst weeks of my life.'
He added: 'I really didn’t know whether this tour would be carrying on. I really didn’t know whether I’d even be getting on stage again, whether I even wanted to be an artist at all. In these situations, you really find out who your friends are, and it’s been a weird week.'
After Maclemore was kicked off the British musician's tour, all of Sheeran's supporting acts quit in protest .The singer has since apologized to his fans over the handling of the row
Sheeran has been accused of 'bowing to the mob' after his apology in which he stated that 'What happened in Israel at Nova music festival on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain.'
He went on:'What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.'
'My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians' lives, of children's lives, and the systemic injustice we're seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.'
Macklemore was removed from Sheeran's tour after US stadium owner Robert Kraft accused him of hate speech for comments he made during two performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in early September.
Macklemore said on stage that every human being deserves the same freedom, and told the crowd he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten.
He then performed his protest song Hind's Hall while images of the devastation in Gaza were projected on the big screens at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Kraft subsequently banned him from performing at the Gillette Stadium near Boston, which is owned by his holding company, leading to his departure from Sheeran's tour.
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