Macklemore Returns to Stage at Red Rocks, Reasserts Pro-Palestinian Stance
American rapper Macklemore returned to the stage at Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre, doubling down on his pro-Palestinian chants following his dismissal from Ed Sheeran's tour over political remarks.
American rapper Macklemore has returned to the stage for the first time since being dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour over his pro-Palestinian remarks, making it clear that the backlash has not shifted his stance. Performing at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, he reiterated the "Free Palestine" chant alongside a series of political and humanitarian appeals.
In video footage from the concert, Macklemore told the audience that expressing humanity in the face of suffering should not be a political issue. He called for the liberation of Palestine, Sudan, and Congo, mentioned Lebanon and Haiti, and expressed solidarity with immigrants in the United States who he said fear leaving their homes due to operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He concluded his remarks with the message that love will always prevail. During the show, Macklemore also performed his protest songs "Hind's Hall" and "Hind's Hall 2," which are closely linked to his support for the Palestinian cause.
The performance comes about a month after the controversy surrounding his participation in Ed Sheeran's US tour. In early September, during an opening set at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Macklemore took the stage wearing a keffiyeh, chanted "Free Palestine," and accused Israel of genocide. Subsequently, Messina Touring Group, the tour's US promoter, announced that several venues had made it clear they would not host shows featuring the rapper. The company stated that his continued participation threatened to cause cancellations and impact hundreds of thousands of fans.
Macklemore claimed after his removal that billionaire and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose Gillette Stadium is one of the venues, was behind the move. According to Macklemore, Sheeran told him that Kraft spoke with him and that other venue owners issued an ultimatum refusing to host the tour as long as the rapper was included. He alleged that it was an organized attempt to silence him.
Kraft confirmed his involvement in the decision, arguing that Macklemore's statements and conduct were part of a broader history of rhetoric and imagery that he said harmed the Jewish community. However, Kraft emphasized that his opposition did not negate the suffering of Palestinians or the right to support them.
The controversy did not end with the rapper's dismissal. Several artists slated to join subsequent legs of Sheeran's tour withdrew in protest, including Finneas, brother and musical partner of Billie Eilish. Sheeran himself clarified that the decision to remove Macklemore was not his own, and later publicly addressed the war, describing the October 7 massacre as horrific and saying the events deepened centuries of Jewish pain, while also speaking about the destruction and loss of civilian and children's lives in Gaza.
Macklemore, by contrast, has turned the controversy into his own concert campaign. In late September, he announced the "Free Palestine Tour," featuring dates in Dublin, Paris, and London, with proceeds pledged to organizations supporting Palestinians. Announcing the tour, he argued that artists today must use the stage for more than entertainment and resist attempts to silence calls for Palestinians.
The concert at Red Rocks marked his first return to the stage since the affair, signaling that he has no intention of softening the stance that led to his removal in the first place.
