Rapper Macklemore Announces New 'Free Palestine Tour' After Ed Sheeran Drop

American rapper Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, announced the launch of a new 'Free Palestine Tour'. The announcement comes just days after he was dropped from British singer Ed Sheeran's tour following pro-Palestinian remarks he made on stage earlier this month.

Tour Announcement and Background

"As you all know, my schedule has cleared up a bit," Macklemore said in his announcement, noting that all proceeds from the tour will go to organizations supporting Palestinians. His removal from Sheeran's tour followed his chant of "Free Palestine" during a concert in New Jersey in early September.

What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage.

Following the dismissal, Macklemore claimed that the "billionaire class" is trying to censor the call for Palestinian liberation. The new tour is set to kick off in Dublin on October 26, continuing to Paris on October 29 and London on October 30.

Industry Reactions

Ed Sheeran clarified that the decision to drop Macklemore was made by his tour promoter rather than himself. Sheeran addressed the controversy during a show in Philadelphia, apologizing for mistakes in handling the situation and calling the conflict a humanitarian issue.