Add The New York Post on Google The lefty rapper Macklemore has sparked fury after going on an anti-Israel rant while opening for Ed Sheeran at MetLife Stadium over the weekend.
The Israeli-American Council started a petition on Sunday calling for Sheeran to drop the “Thrift Shop” singer from the remainder of his tour, accusing the rapper of spreading antisemitic propaganda.
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, made calls to “Free Palestine” and accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza at the New Jersey Meadowlands show.
The rapper also performed his song, “Hindi’s Hall,” a reference to the pro-Palestine protests at the Columbia University campus while images from Gaza were played on giant screens.
“This was an Ed Sheeran concert – not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event,” said the IAC, which represents more than 15,000 Israeli-Americans.
“The issue is not whether Macklemore has the right to hold political views. The question is where to draw the line when an opening act uses a global concert platform to advance a one-sided political agenda,” the group added.
“This becomes even more troubling when the message relies on selective imagery, biased messaging, and disputed claims presented to a massive audience as fact, without context or complexity.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
