Did Macklemore just get canceled for his political point of view? Or did tour organizers boot the rapper from Ed Sheeran's US tour for being a raging antisemite? We report, you decide.
First, however, let's offer some context. Twelve years ago, Macklemore performed in an outfit that could have come straight out of Jules Streicher's fever dreams. He donned a prosthetic nose, beard, and wig to create an instantly recognizable stereotype of Jewish men that generated immediate backlash. Macklemore later apologized, claiming he had no intention of insulting Jews, but the apologies and explanations landed flat even while Macklemore claimed to respect all cultures:
Seth Rogen didn't buy it at the time either:
.@macklemore really?? Because if I told someone to put together an anti Semitic Jew costume, they'd have that exact shopping list.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) May 19, 2014
That context has to at least inform the events of the past couple of days. Sheeran has dropped Macklemore from the US tour after the rapper began including rants about "Free Palestine" as part of his act. The decision didn't come from Sheeran but from Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and one of the venues for the Sheeran tour. Kraft organized other venue owners to refuse to platform Macklemore, Kraft told NBC News, and clearly indicates that Macklemore's past antisemitism is a big part of the reason why:
The decision was reached after comments made by Macklemore at the tour’s New Jersey shows and “a broader history of rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community,” Kraft said in a statement provided to NBC News on Monday.
Gillette Stadium seeks to create a “welcoming environment for all guests,” he added.
“I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same — peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate,” Kraft said.
He added that the decision was not about trying to stifle Palestinian advocacy or diminishing the suffering of Palestinians. Kraft blamed Hamas, which the United States, Israel and the European Union have designated as a terrorist organization, for the actions that “have caused immeasurable suffering for Palestinians and Israelis alike.”
“Much of my time and attention for the last decade has been focused on the fight against antisemitism and hate of all kinds, and I feel a responsibility to stand up when I believe that line has been crossed,” Kraft said.
Macklemore, of course, went to Rolling Stone claiming to be silenced for his politics, which they covered dutifully:
“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,’” he said during the first MetLife show. “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.”
Curiously, though, Rolling Stone also included the opposing point of view from pop singer Pink:
This spurred much criticism and backlash from pro-Israel groups. StopAntisemitism accused the rapper of ambushing fans with “anti-Israel propaganda” in an Instagram post, which the pop singer Pink amplified.
Pink later explained that she did not object to Macklemore’s calls for a “Free Palestine,” but said, “I have never asked for another artist to be silenced and I’m not asking now. I don’t need anyone fired, and I don’t need a refund. What I need is to be able to say, as a Jewish mom, ‘that scared me, and it scared people I love,’ without being told our fear is just propaganda, and without being told I’m somehow cool with genocide because I noticed?”
Eeenteresting. If the debate has fully entered the hard-prog confines of Rolling Stone, then Macklemore and his fellow antisemites may truly be at risk of some accountability, socially and financially.
Fear not, though, Macklemore. You have an ally ready to stand up for you! Notably, it's Ilhan "all about the Benjamins" Omar:
Thank you @macklemore for using your platform and continuing to speak out against the genocide.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) September 14, 2026
None of us are free until all of us are free ✊🏽 https://t.co/W3PrEwqhxM
Maybe Macklemore can include a classic '80s song on his next tour as a tribute to the antisemitic House Democrat: Don't Stand So Close to Me.
Does this qualify as a "cancel culture" moment, or long-awaited accountability for sloganeering celebs? The easy answer is ... yes. It can be both, but given the long context of Macklemore's onstage behavior, there's no reason for Kraft to give his venue to a performer who wants to ambush audiences with his anti-Israel propaganda. There's no reason for Sheeran to lose business to protect Macklemore's antics, either. Macklemore can run his own tour if he wants to produce those kinds of messages, and the venue operators can make their own choices on doing business with an artist with this track record.
Good for Kraft. This isn’t a free speech issue: no one questions Macklemore’s right to spew anti-Semitic nonsense to his heart’s content. Whether he is entitled to command someone else’s stage to spew such idiocy is a completely different question. If other venue owners want to sponsor anti-Semitic ignorance, they are free to do so.
Indeed. That's how free speech and free markets work. But it's worth noting that the same can be said for other forms of "cancel culture" too, and that the lines are not bright red on these issues.
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