Macklemore sparked controversy at an Ed Sheeran concert at MetLife Stadium over the weekend by delivering an anti-Israel rant, calling for "Free Palestine" and accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. The Israeli-American Council has started a petition to have Macklemore removed from the remainder of Sheeran's tour, citing his spread of antisemitic propaganda. At the concert on September 4, tickets for which ranged from $71 to $210, Macklemore's comments were met with criticism from some in attendance, including one father who vowed to stop supporting Sheeran due to his association with Macklemore. The Israeli-American Council is also calling for venues to establish clear boundaries between entertainment and political performances.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, sparked outrage at a concert at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where he opened for Ed Sheeran on Friday and Saturday nights. During his performance, Macklemore repeatedly called out "Free Palestine" and accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. The Israeli-American Council (IAC) started a petition to have Macklemore removed from the remainder of Sheeran's tour, calling it "antisemitic propaganda". Michael Rapaport, a Jewish comedian, also slammed Macklemore as a "clown" on social media, questioning why Sheeran allowed him to perform at his concert.
Written for “Macklemore Anti Israel Rant” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
The lefty rapper Macklemore has sparked fury after going on an anti-Israel rant while opening for Ed Sheeran at MetLife Stadium over the weekend.
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rapper → spark → weekend
The Israeli-American Council started a petition on Sunday calling for Sheeran to drop the “Thrift Shop” singer from the remainder of his tour, accusing the rapper of spreading antisemitic propaganda.
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Sheeran → start → propaganda
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, made calls to “Free Palestine” and accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza at the New Jersey Meadowlands show.
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name → make → show
“I wanted to stand up here on stages across America and say two words that are near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine,” the Grammy-winning rapper said as he wore a keffiyeh draped over his shoulders.
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he → want → shoulders
“This was an Ed Sheeran concert – not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event,” said the IAC, which represents more than 15,000 Israeli-Americans.
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which → say → Americans
“The issue is not whether Macklemore has the right to hold political views.
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Macklemore → have → views
The question is where to draw the line when an opening act uses a global concert platform to advance a one-sided political agenda,” the group added.
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group → draw → agenda
“This becomes even more troubling when the message relies on selective imagery, biased messaging, and disputed claims presented to a massive audience as fact, without context or complexity.”
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message → become → context
Sheeran’s management team did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
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team → respond → comment
The concert was held on Sept. 4, with tickets ranging from $71 to $210 on Ticketmaster.
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tickets → hold → Ticketmaster
Josh Wein, a father of two, said he was excited to bring out his family to see the show until Macklemore came out to the stage.
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Macklemore → say → stage
“When he started chanting “Free Palestine” and pushing his clearly uneducated version of the Israel/Gaza conflict, my daughters looked at me completely confused,” he wrote on X.
“I had brought them to an Ed Sheeran concert, not to have an opening act lecture them about Middle East politics.”
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act → start → politics
Wein said the entire experience left his family sour as they vowed to stop supporting Sheeran due to his association with Macklemore.
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they → say → Macklemore
Macklemore has repeatedly slammed Israel for the casualties in Gaza while performing on stage.
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Macklemore → slam → stage
He first called the war “a genocide” while speaking at a pro-Palestinian rally in Washington in 2023, and later chanted “F–k America” during a similar rally in 2024 over then-President Joe Biden’s support of Israel.
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He → call → Israel
Israel has been accused of committing genocide in Gaza, where the war has claimed more than 73,000 lives inside the Palestinian enclave, according to the Hamas-run ministry of health, which does not differentiate between civilians and terrorists.
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which → accuse → civilians
Israel said it only tagets terrorists and makes efforts to warn civilians to get out of the area before an attack.
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it → say → attack
The IAC called for not only Macklemore to be removed from Sheeran’s remaining tour dates, but for all venues to establish clear boundaries between entertainment and political performances.
“Jewish patrons should not be subjected to this propaganda,” the StopAntisemitism group wrote on X in response to Friday’s incident.
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group → call → incident
“Fans deserve apologies and refunds.
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Fans → deserve → apologies
Macklemore, seen performing last month, is under fire for spewing an anti-Israel rant when he opened for Ed Sheeran at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium this weekend.
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he → see → Stadium
AFP via Getty Images
Macklemore made calls to “Free Palestine” and accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza at the New Jersey Meadowlands show on Sept. 4.
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Macklemore → make → Sept.
The Grammy-winner wore a keffiyeh while opening for Sheeran.
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winner → wear → Sheeran
He's pictured above wearing the traditional scarf during a Dublin show in June.
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He → picture → June
The Israeli-American Council started a petition urging Sheeran to drop Macklemore from the remainder of his tour, accusing the rapper of spreading antisemitic propaganda.
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Council → start → propaganda
