US rapper Macklemore says he is "blown away" after tickets for all three dates of his newly announced Free Palestine tour sold out almost instantly — a rapid show of public support that follows his high-profile removal from Ed Sheeran's Loop tour over comments he made about Gaza and the West Bank.
The 43-year-old, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty and who is best known for hits including Thrift Shop and Can't Hold Us, announced the concerts in Dublin, Paris and London in September after he was dropped as a supporting act on Sheeran's tour. The upcoming shows are designed to bring together artists and raise funds for humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Macklemore Responds to Sell-Out Free Palestine Shows
Posting to his 9.1 million Instagram followers on Wednesday — shortly after tickets went on sale — Macklemore said the response had been overwhelming. "All three shows sold out immediately. I'm honestly blown away," he wrote.
He said the concerts were organised quickly and collaboratively, with a broader message in mind. "We put these shows together fast and in community, believing that musicians can stand in solidarity with Palestine, use the stage to raise funds and show what collective action can look like," he wrote.
"When those in power try to silence our calls for liberation, art will always be a form of resistance. The response to these shows is another reminder of how many people across the world are standing together for a free Palestine."
Haggerty confirmed that the full line-up for the concerts will be revealed soon and told fans he "can't wait to be together." The post drew an outpouring of support from followers, including TV presenter Laura Whitmore and singer Paloma Faith, both of whom responded with heart emojis.
What Led to the Sheeran Split
The controversy began earlier in September when Macklemore, while performing as an opener on Sheeran's Loop tour, told an audience he wanted people in Gaza and the West Bank to know they had not been forgotten amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The comments sparked immediate backlash, and a petition was launched calling for his removal from the tour's remaining dates.
Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, was among those who contacted Sheeran directly, indicating the rapper would not be permitted to perform at the venue if he remained on the bill. Sheeran subsequently stated that the decision to remove Macklemore from the tour was made by the promoter and not by him personally.
At his first gig following the furore, Sheeran apologised for making "mistakes" and described the situation in Gaza as "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate."
Sheeran's Loop Tour Unravels Further
The fallout did not end with Macklemore's removal. All of Sheeran's remaining Loop tour supporting acts subsequently withdrew from the upcoming dates. These included Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Grammy award-winning musician Finneas — brother of Billie Eilish — Danish singer Lukas Graham, and Sheeran's backing band Beoga. The mass departure has left the Loop tour's remaining schedule significantly diminished.
Tour Dates and What's Next
Macklemore's Free Palestine tour is set to kick off at Dublin's 3Arena on October 26, before moving to Paris' Accor Arena on October 29, and wrapping up at London's OVO Arena Wembley on October 30. A full artist line-up for all three nights is expected to be announced shortly.
The swift sell-out underscores significant public appetite for events that explicitly platform support for Palestinian civilians caught up in the conflict — and signals that Macklemore's removal from Sheeran's tour has done little to dampen enthusiasm for his message or his music.
