Macklemore UK Tour to Fund Group That Justified October 7 Hostage Taking

Rapper Macklemore is facing renewed backlash as his upcoming United Kingdom tour, titled "Free Palestine," will donate a portion of its proceeds to an organization whose spokesperson justified the kidnapping of hostages by Hamas during the October 7 massacre. According to a report by the Jewish Chronicle, the move amounts to direct support for entities that encourage terrorism.

The supported organization is the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM). Its UK spokesperson, Jenin Hourani, previously praised the abduction of hostages, calling the act "legitimate" and "effective." The movement itself has referred to the massacres committed by Hamas as a "prison break," completely ignoring the murderous violence.

The Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) warned that funding the organization through the tour endangers Jewish communities and legitimizes violence against them. The council called on production company Live Nation to disclose its vetting processes and detail security measures to protect staff and Jewish audiences from antisemitic incitement.

This controversy comes just weeks after Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran's US tour. During two prior performances, the rapper used the stage to shout "Free Palestine" and accuse Israel of "genocide" and "apartheid"—allegations that Jerusalem categorically rejects and views as a blood libel.