American rapper Macklemore has stood by his decision to deliver a Free Palestine message during Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after facing demands that he be dropped from the remaining shows, RTE reported.

The 43-year-old performer appeared as Sheeran’s opening act at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Friday. During his set, he told concertgoers that people in Gaza and the West Bank should know they had not been forgotten amid the Israeli war.

His remarks triggered a campaign by the Israeli American Council to pressure Ed Sheeran’s tour into dropping Macklemore from its remaining dates.

The council's petition stated, "This was an Ed Sheeran concert - not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event."

"The issue is not whether Macklemore has the right to hold political views. The question is where the line should be drawn when an opening act uses a global concert platform to advance a one-sided political agenda," it added.

Macklemore stands by his message

On Monday, Macklemore shared a video showing himself performing at Sheeran’s concert and wrote, "Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial."

Speaking from the stage, the rapper explained why he wanted to use his platform during the tour, saying, "I’ve been trying to figure out a way to say this all day.

"One of the reasons why I wanted to come on this tour was because I wanted to stand up here on stages and stadiums across America and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine," he stressed.

"I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people from Gaza all the way to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten them," he added.

'A message for peace'

Macklemore also sought to distinguish his criticism of "Israel" and support for Palestine from criticism of Jewish people.

He said, "To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, in no way is a criticism of you."

"My message is for peace, love, for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality," he further stated.

Macklemore backs Eurovision boycott

Macklemore was among more than 1,100 artists, musicians and cultural workers who called for a boycott of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest over the inclusion of "Israel".

The letter was coordinated by the campaign group No Music For Genocide and was also signed by artists including Paloma Faith, Massive Attack, Paul Weller, and Kneecap.

Macklemore’s stance is not an isolated case. Across the world, an increasing number of artists and cultural figures are publicly voicing support for Palestine and condemning Israeli genocide in Gaza, despite facing backlash and pressure from pro-"Israel" and Zionist advocacy groups.

Their growing willingness to speak out mirrors the expanding presence of Palestinian solidarity within the global cultural community.