Pink Joins the Criticism of Macklemore’s Pro-Palestine Remarks

Progressive pop artist Pink has recently weighed in on the criticism directed at Macklemore, a left-wing rapper, following his pro-Palestine statements during an Ed Sheeran concert.

The singer, known for “Just Give Me a Reason,” shared a post related to the controversy, re-sharing an Instagram Story from a group called StopAntisemitism. This group has criticized Macklemore for expressing support for a Hamas-led Palestine during the concert last Friday, and they are calling for Sheeran to remove Macklemore from the tour.

While Pink did not post any direct comments herself, it seems that she is backing the criticism aimed at Macklemore’s performance, according to reports.

Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, faced backlash for stating “Free Palestine” from the stage at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey last week, where he also accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza.

“I wanted to stand up here on stages across America and say two words that are near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine,” he proclaimed to the audience during the show.

On stage, he wore a Palestinian Keffiyeh, and the video screen behind him displayed “Free Palestine” slogans.

Meanwhile, StopAntisemitism reminded followers that Macklemore had previously appeared on stage dressed as a Jew while wearing a fake giant nose—an infamous antisemitic stereotype.

Often, Macklemore appears to engage in politically charged rhetoric during his performances. Reports indicate that he has been known to shout “Fuck America” alongside his pro-Hamas messaging.

During the concert, he also performed his song “Hindi’s Hall,” which addresses pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, with images of Gaza displayed behind him.

Many have criticized both Macklemore and Ed Sheeran for the aggressive political statements made during a concert. In response, the Israeli-American Council has started a petition urging Sheeran to drop Macklemore from the tour.

“This was an Ed Sheeran concert – not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event,” the IAC stated. They went on to argue, “The issue isn’t whether Macklemore can hold political views; it’s about where the line is drawn when an opening act uses a global concert platform to push a one-sided political agenda.”

The IAC further raised concerns about the use of selective imagery and biased messaging being presented to a large audience as fact, without context or complexity. They’ve also called on concert venues to set limits on political expressions during events.