Comedian Bill Maher used the first night of Rosh Hashanah to criticize Macklemore and other celebrities he views as anti-Israel, arguing that labeling the Gaza conflict as genocide is contributing to a surge in antisemitism worldwide.
On Friday night’s episode of HBO’s “Real Time,” Maher initially targeted members of the Democratic Party who have expressed opposition to Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
“Nowhere has this moral confusion become more clear than in a place called Gaza,” Maher remarked.
He elaborated, “It’s a small piece of land that wasn’t even part of the original Israel. They won it in a war against them, then they gave it back—as a peace gesture. Did you hear that part on TikTok, kids?”
Shifting focus, Maher addressed Macklemore—whose full name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty—after the artist made several declarations to “Free Palestine” while performing his anti-Israel song “Hind’s Hall” during an opening act for Ed Sheeran at MetLife Stadium earlier this month.
“I think Macklemore spoke for all the uninformed celebrities when he said, ‘I know enough to know this is a genocide,’” Maher stated. “Actually, you don’t know anything. It’s not a genocide; it’s a counterattack in a war.”
Macklemore attracted attention in early September for his remarks about the Israel-Hamas conflict while performing, wearing a keffiyeh and echoing his sentiments to concertgoers.
“Part of why I wanted to go on this tour is to stand in stadiums and say two words that mean a lot to me: Free Palestine,” Macklemore expressed.
“I said, ‘Free Palestine!’ I want those words to ring out loud and clear so people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank know we haven’t forgotten about them,” he added.
Maher continued his critique of Macklemore and other progressive figures, disputing their claims that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza in light of Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023.
“The notion that Gaza equals genocide is a lie, an easily provable one,” Maher said. “The fact that so many prominent Democrats support this is, in my view, the party’s lowest moment since they reversed Reconstruction post-Civil War. Democrats are putting a lot of pressure on their candidates regarding this issue. They want them to say it—it’s genocide—just say it.”
In concluding his “New Rule” segment, Maher argued that these misleading claims have fueled the increase in antisemitism.
“If you’re among those wondering where this surge of antisemitism is coming from, it’s this. Because if you believe someone is committing genocide, it gives you the green light to hate them. History shows that when it comes to hating Jews, people often don’t need much permission,” Maher said.
Macklemore’s statements also received pushback from Jason Mudd, the CEO of Axia Public Relations, who told Fox News Digital that the rapper’s public stance on Israel is a “calculated risk.”
“Taking a political stance often alienates half your audience,” Mudd noted.
The more complicated division, he continued, is that about a third think you should stick to entertainment, while another third appreciates using one’s platform for advocacy.
“It’s fine if you’re willing to take a calculated risk,” he remarked. “Influencing politics through your platform can impact your fan support, reputation, career, and future earnings, so understand the risks before proceeding.”
Mudd ended by advising that Macklemore consider the potential repercussions of taking such a divisive public stance.
“If Macklemore were my client, I’d caution him that calling a war a genocide could lead to public backlash, like the one Bill Maher just delivered,” Mudd stated. “There’s nothing wrong with entertainers taking a stance, but he needs to be aware of the career, reputational, and pushback risks involved.”
