Michael Rapaport Criticizes Macklemore's Pro-Palestinian Performance at Ed Sheeran Concert

Actor Michael Rapaport strongly criticized rapper Macklemore, referring to him as a "clown," following Macklemore's decision to deliver a pro-Palestinian message during his opening act for Ed Sheeran's concert tour.

Macklemore, 43, took the stage before Sheeran, 35, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, over two nights, Friday and Saturday. During his sets, he repeatedly chanted "Free Palestine" and performed his song "Hind's Hall," which features anti-Israel themes.

On Saturday, Rapaport, 56, who is Jewish and has become a prominent pro-Israel voice in Hollywood since the October 7 Hamas attack, posted sharp criticism of Macklemore (born Benjamin Haggerty) on X.

"Imagine going to see Ed Sheeran & this absolute no talent none singer non rapping non dancing clown Macklemore is opening & because he actually has no act or specific skill set he’s jumping around like dkc carrying on about a genocide that never happened in Gaza," Rapaport wrote, adding, "This is a nightmare."

In a subsequent post on X, the comedian questioned Sheeran's choice to have Macklemore as an opening act.

"So Ed Sheeran is ok with this p--- stain opening up for him? Sweet Ed Sheeran?" Rapaport queried.

Rapaport also shared an article detailing the negative reception to Macklemore's political statements during the concerts, commenting, "Calling this dude a ‘Rapper' is disrespectful to any actual ‘Rapper.'"

Macklemore's On-Stage Advocacy

A video Rapaport shared from the Friday night show depicted Macklemore, wearing a keffiyeh around his neck, chanting "Say free, free Palestine!" to music while moving across the stage and holding his microphone.

Macklemore, who is scheduled to open for Sheeran throughout the U.S. leg of the "Shape of You" singer's Loop Tour, delivered a speech expressing his intent to use large venues across America to advocate for Palestine.

"A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine," Macklemore stated in a video shared on social media. "I said, ‘Free Palestine!’ I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them."

He continued by reflecting on his own family life:

"I have an 11-year-old daughter, her name is Sloan, she’s here tonight. And if any of you guys are parents, then you know that that love that you have for your kids cannot be put into words, right? I want to see her grow up, I want to see her go to school, to fall in love, to figure out meaning, purpose, joy, her existence on this planet. I want it to be the most beautiful possible."

Macklemore emphasized universal aspirations for safety and peace.

"And I think that every single human being that walks this earth deserves that exact same feeling. To know safety and peace before they know the sound of violence, to know the sound of laughter on a playground before planes and bombs, for parents to be able to say bye to their kids in the morning and not have to wonder if this is going to be the last time they kiss their child goodbye."

He concluded his emotional address by asserting his commitment to speaking out:

"And if I let that fear I felt on the plane yesterday stop me from speaking my heart in order to keep my own comfort and the audience’s comfort, that is the day I no longer continue to be on stage. So, I say, ‘Free Palestine!’"

After his speech, Macklemore extended his call for freedom to other nations, including America, and criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"I say, free America, free Cuba to the Congo to Sudan to Iran, and all the people in America who have to live in fear because of this terrorist organization ICE," he declared.

Following this, Macklemore performed "Hind's Hall," a track inspired by the 2024 pro-Palestinian campus protests. During the song, large stadium screens displayed footage from Gaza, images of pro-Palestinian demonstrations, Israeli soldiers, and pro-Palestinian slogans.

The song's title references Hamilton Hall, a Columbia University building that pro-Palestinian students occupied in April 2024 and renamed in honor of Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl killed during the Israel-Gaza conflict. The lyrics of "Hind's Hall" commend the anti-Israel encampments and protests on college campuses nationwide and critically mention President Biden, law enforcement, and the music industry.

Macklemore reiterated his pro-Palestinian stance during Sheeran’s second MetLife Stadium show on Saturday night, again advocating for "Free Palestine" and performing "Hind’s Hall."

Divided Audience Reactions and Petition

While some concertgoers cheered Macklemore's remarks and participated in the "Free Palestine" chant, his performance also elicited significant backlash from other attendees.

One concertgoer commented on X that he had brought his wife and two daughters, who were long-time Sheeran fans, to Friday's show. He expressed disappointment after Macklemore’s set became political, noting his daughters looked "completely confused" by the "Free Palestine" chants. He stated he had taken them to "an Ed Sheeran concert, not to have an opening act lecture them about Middle East politics."

The fan reported that his family left their seats during Macklemore’s performance and returned afterward, praising Sheeran's show as "phenomenal" but criticizing the singer for allowing Macklemore to perform again on Saturday. "Friday might have been Macklemore’s decision. Saturday was yours," the concertgoer wrote, concluding, "Tonight, you lost four of them. And I suspect plenty more."

Another attendee, who was at Saturday's show in a company suite with 35 other people, described himself as "embarrassed" and "shocked" by Macklemore’s set. He mentioned having "always been a Macklemore fan," but after what he termed the rapper’s "political stunt," he could no longer support him or his music. "When you go WOKE, you have to be prepared to lose fans," he wrote.

This concertgoer also denounced Sheeran for permitting Macklemore to return to the stage Saturday, especially after the previous night's controversy. "After it happened on Friday, it should have immediately been stopped," he wrote, stating he attended the show for "amazing music," not "Free Palestine" rants.

Two other concertgoers, interviewed by Ynet, the English edition of a major Israeli news website, said they were unfamiliar with Macklemore before the event and unaware he would be performing. "We only found out there and we were in shock. It was really horrifying," they stated. "We immediately thought about everything our people have been through and how even when we’re abroad we still have to feel this antisemitism. It was even harder because friends of ours were killed in the war and murdered at Nova. It was like a knife in the heart to hear him sing that way and hear people cheering."

They added that some members of their group began crying and left the show before Sheeran's main performance.

Conversely, many social media users lauded Macklemore for his outspokenness and expressed support for his message.

• "Huge respect for Ed Sheeran, but seeing Macklemore use his voice for Palestine made this moment mean so much more," one fan commented on Instagram. "Respect to every artist who refuses to stay silent and uses their platform to speak up for humanity. Macklemore, we hear you."
• "LOVE Macklemore, and good on him using his platform to speak out….his messaging is always spot on. Peace," another agreed.
• "Free free Palestine. Love to Macklemore. Stay true," a fan chimed in.
• "this was from last night!! I hope you get to perform this again tonight too!" a fan wrote alongside a clip from Macklemore's set.
• "So happy we get to witness such history!" one fan commented.
• "Honestly I loved this part of the concert !" another wrote.
• "Music has always been a vital platform for human rights advocacy, not just mindless escape," wrote one X user. "Calling for peace, safety, and equality for Palestinians, Congolese, and Sudanese isn't antisemitic—it's pro-humanity. Macklemore explicitly stands for collective liberation and love."
• "Art has always been political, why are you annoyed at an artist giving context to a song he released about the current state of the world you live in?" another fan commented on X. "Also, he was an opener, they could’ve just skipped his set! Although I hope Macklemore sings it louder next time!"

In response to the controversy, the Israeli-American Council launched a petition urging Macklemore's removal from Sheeran's remaining tour dates.

"This was an Ed Sheeran concert – not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event," the petition stated. "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."

Macklemore's History of Advocacy and Broader Context

Macklemore has consistently vocalized his support for Palestinians since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict. In November 2023, he addressed a pro-Palestinian rally in Washington, D.C., where he declared, "I don’t know enough. But I know enough that this is a genocide."

The rapper's political statements have previously drawn criticism. In 2024, he faced backlash after saying "f--- America" during a pro-Palestinian charity concert in Seattle, later affirming his "unwavering in my support for a Free Palestine."

Israel has faced accusations of committing genocide during the conflict in Gaza from various human rights organizations, legal scholars, and foreign governments, citing the extensive Palestinian casualties, widespread destruction, and mass displacement. South Africa initiated a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which, in 2024, instructed Israel to implement measures to prevent acts of genocide while the case proceeds. Israel has vehemently denied these accusations, asserting that its military operations target Hamas, not Palestinian civilians, and that it issues evacuation warnings before attacks while adhering to international law.