Macklemore says his newly announced “Free Palestine” tour has sold out immediately, with all three European dates in Dublin, Paris and London now sold out.
- Dublin, Paris and London dates sell out
- Macklemore: “Art will always be a form of resistance”
- The tour follows Ed Sheeran controversy
- Robert Kraft confirmed his role in barring Macklemore
- Ed Sheeran said he tried to keep Macklemore on the tour
- Macklemore’s political message continues on stage
- The controversy has also prompted donations
- What happens next?
The Seattle rapper announced the shows less than a week ago, following his removal from Ed Sheeran’s US stadium tour after making pro-Palestinian statements during performances.
Macklemore announced the sell-outs on social media on Wednesday, saying he was “blown away” by the response. Rolling Stone and Billboard both reported that all three dates had sold out.
Dublin, Paris and London dates sell out
The tour will begin in Dublin on October 26, before moving to Paris on October 29 and London on October 30.
Macklemore said the shows were put together quickly and described them as an opportunity for musicians to stand in solidarity with Palestinians while raising funds.
He also said additional artists would be announced for the concerts.
The rapper has indicated that US dates will be announced at a later stage.
Macklemore: “Art will always be a form of resistance”
Following the sell-out, Macklemore said the response demonstrated significant interest in his decision to use live performances to address the conflict and support Palestinians.
He framed the concerts as a combination of music, fundraising and activism, arguing that artists can use their platforms to support causes they believe in.
The tour’s organisers have said that all proceeds will benefit organisations supporting Palestinians and the Palestinian movement.
The tour follows Ed Sheeran controversy
The European tour comes shortly after Macklemore was removed from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran’s US stadium tour.
The decision followed statements Macklemore made from the stage supporting Palestinians and calling for a “Free Palestine”.
Sheeran’s promoter, Messina Touring Group, said venues had indicated they would not allow concerts featuring Macklemore to proceed, creating a situation that could have affected the wider tour. Macklemore had been scheduled to perform at eight of the remaining US shows.
Robert Kraft confirmed his role in barring Macklemore
The controversy intensified after Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, confirmed that he had decided Macklemore would not perform at the Massachusetts venue.
Kraft said the decision was based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Sheeran’s New Jersey performances and what Kraft described as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that he said had been offensive to the Jewish community.
Macklemore, meanwhile, had claimed that Kraft had pressured Sheeran and other stadium owners to remove him from the tour.
Kraft confirmed his decision regarding Gillette Stadium but did not confirm Macklemore’s broader allegation that he had coordinated pressure on other venue owners.
Ed Sheeran said he tried to keep Macklemore on the tour
Sheeran subsequently addressed the dispute, saying the decision was made by the promoter and venues rather than by him personally.
The singer said he had attempted to find a solution after learning that venues objected to Macklemore appearing on the bill, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
Sheeran also said he had his own views about the Israel-Hamas war but had chosen not to use his professional platform to take a public political position. He described the suffering of people on both sides as a human tragedy.
Macklemore’s political message continues on stage
The dispute follows an appearance by Macklemore at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he spoke directly to the audience about Palestine.
He said one of the reasons he wanted to perform was to use a stadium platform to say “Free Palestine” and to draw attention to Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
The speech received cheers from some members of the audience, while some attendees reportedly left during his performance.
His subsequent removal from Sheeran’s tour transformed what had been a series of onstage political statements into a wider debate involving artists, concert promoters, venue owners and freedom of expression.
The controversy has also prompted donations
The dispute has extended beyond concert bookings.
Macklemore challenged Kraft to match a $1 million donation to organisations supporting Palestinians.
Kraft subsequently said Sheeran had contacted him and asked him to commit $2 million to humanitarian assistance in the region. Kraft said he intended to work with other venue owners on efforts aimed at addressing the humanitarian crisis.
What happens next?
For now, Macklemore’s European shows have become the next chapter in a controversy that began with his public statements at Sheeran’s concerts.
The immediate commercial result is clear: all three announced European dates have sold out, according to Macklemore and multiple music-industry reports.
The remaining details, including the supporting artists and future US dates, are yet to be announced.
For Macklemore, the European tour will provide a new platform to combine music, fundraising and his public advocacy for Palestinians.
