Macklemore is launching a new concert series titled the Free Palestine tour to support organizations dedicated to the Palestinian people and movement, The Hill reported. The rapper, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, announced the upcoming project on Thursday via X. He explained that he is taking this step after being removed from Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour earlier this month. The musician faced backlash following his performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he spoke in support of Palestine. During the opening of his song Hind’s Hall, he told the crowd, “Free Palestine, I said free Palestine.” He further clarified his intent by stating, “I want those words to be loud and clear so that the people in Gaza all the way to the occupied West Bank, know that we have not forgotten them.” Following the performance, he shared a video of his remarks online with the caption, “Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial.” The situation escalated when groups, including New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft, called for his removal from the tour. Ed Sheeran later addressed the controversy in a lengthy post on Instagram, noting that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the promoter due to threats from multiple venues to pull out of the tour. Ed Sheeran has maintained that dropping Macklemore was not his decision Sheeran stated, “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision; it was not mine,” and added, “Macklemore’s contract with the tour was with the promoter, not with me.” Sheeran also mentioned that he prefers not to use his platform for political purposes, as many of his younger fans do not attend shows expecting a political forum. Macklemore has announced the "Free Palestine" tour after he was dropped from Ed Sheeran's U.S. concerts for making speeches supporting Palestine.The tour includes three shows set for Dublin (Oct. 26), Paris (Oct. 29) and London (Oct. 30). All ticket sales and proceeds from the… pic.twitter.com/lNphXFgjNM— Variety (@Variety) September 24, 2026 Following Macklemore’s removal, all other supporting acts withdrew from the tour. Sheeran later spoke to fans in Philadelphia on Saturday, breaking his silence on the conflict. He said, “What happened in Israel at the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7, 2023, was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain.” Sheeran continued, “What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate; my heart has been broken by the scale of the devastation and loss of civilian life and children’s lives.” He also added, “The systematic injustice we see unfolding in the West Bank cannot be overlooked,” and noted that he is currently speaking with people across the spectrum to determine how to contribute to aid for victims. Macklemore clearly views his own situation as part of a larger issue regarding artistic freedom and corporate influence. On X, he wrote, “What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage,” and added, “When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention.” He confirmed that all proceeds from his upcoming tour will go directly to organizations supporting the Palestinian people. The Macklemore and Friends Free Palestine Tour is scheduled to begin in Dublin on October 26, followed by a show in Paris on October 29, and a performance in London on October 30. There are currently no additional tour dates or locations listed beyond these three stops.