Rapper Macklemore has pledged to donate his entire US$1 million (about S$1.28 million) in net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to organisations supporting Palestinians.
The 43-year-old musician made the announcement on Sept 16, shortly after being removed from Sheeran’s North American tour following his public comments in support of Palestinians.
Macklemore had performed as an opening act at the tour’s Sept 4 show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. During the performance, he told the audience that one reason he wanted to join the tour was to use stages across the United States to express his support for Palestinians.
He later faced criticism over his remarks and was dropped from the remaining US dates after several venues reportedly told the tour promoter they would not allow him to perform.
In his latest statement, Macklemore said he wanted to shift attention away from the controversy and towards Palestinians affected by the conflict.
He said his US$1 million donation would be divided among six organisations working directly to support Palestinians. The organisations named were the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, the UNRWA USA National Committee and American Near East Refugee Aid.
Macklemore also challenged New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to match his donation, saying the two could disagree on other issues while still agreeing that Palestinian lives should be protected.
Kraft had previously defended the decision to remove Macklemore from the tour, citing what he described as concerns over the rapper’s recent comments as well as previous rhetoric and imagery that he said had offended the Jewish community.
The controversy has also affected the wider Loop Tour. Sheeran’s other supporting acts, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Irish folk group Beoga, have announced that they will no longer participate in the remaining dates.
Sheeran has said the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour’s promoter and venues, rather than by him. He said he had spoken with venues in an attempt to find a solution but that the final decision was not his.
Sheeran has also said he has personal views about the conflict but prefers not to use his concerts as a political forum, while acknowledging Macklemore’s decision to speak publicly about the issue.
The dispute has since expanded beyond the tour, with debate continuing among musicians, venues and audiences over artists’ political expression and the role of entertainment platforms in discussions about the conflict.
Macklemore’s donation pledge adds a humanitarian dimension to the controversy, with the rapper saying he hopes the funds will support organisations providing assistance to Palestinians.
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