Macklemore’s forthcoming tour in the UK is set to support a group whose British representative previously praised Hamas’s hostage-taking on October 7, 2023, describing it as “legitimate” and “effective,” according to a report from The Jewish Chronicle.
The artist’s concert on October 30 at Wembley Arena in London, which can accommodate 12,500 attendees and is managed by Live Nation, will benefit several organizations, notably the Palestine Youth Movement.
Jeanine Hourani, a spokesperson for the Palestine Youth Movement in the UK, has defended the hostage-taking that occurred during the events of October 7. The organization has even referred to the violence as a “prison break.”
The Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) has raised concerns that financing the Palestine Youth Movement through Macklemore’s tour could legitimize violence against Jewish communities.
The JLC has called on Live Nation to disclose its vetting procedures and to clarify the safety measures in place to protect Jewish staff and concertgoers from potential antisemitic incidents.
This controversy arises shortly after Macklemore, whose legal name is Benjamin Haggerty, was removed as an opening act from Ed Sheeran’s US tour following two performances in September at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
During those events, Macklemore made statements on stage such as “Free Palestine” and accused Israel of acting with genocide and apartheid—with Jerusalem firmly rejecting those accusations as defamatory.
Messina Touring Group dropped him after several venue owners, including Robert Kraft, a Jewish philanthropist and owner of Gillette Stadium, expressed they would not allow him to perform.
In the aftermath of his exit from the US tour, the Israeli-American Council commended the decision, suggesting that while Macklemore might have the right to express his views, he should not spread such messages to large audiences.
In light of being dropped from the US lineup, Macklemore has initiated his own tour named “Macklemore & Friends — Free Palestine Tour.”
