Macklemore to donate his earnings after getting dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour

Seattle, Washington – After being dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour, rapper Macklemore is pledging his salary to the cause that got him dumped: Free Palestine.

Rapper Macklemore has pledged the entirety of his Loop Tour earnings to organizations supporting the Palestinian people.   © Britta Pedersen/dpa

Following a two-minute speech in support of Palestine and a call of "Free Palestine," Macklemore was removed as a supporting act from Sheeran’s tour.

In response to Macklemore's removal, all the opening artists have pulled out of the tour.

Macklemore has now taken an additional step after the drama of his removal.

Peter Max, acclaimed counterculture pop artist, has died
Celebrities Peter Max, acclaimed counterculture pop artist, has died

"With everything that has happened over the last 48 hours, I want to bring the conversation back to where it belongs: to the Palestinian people who are still being killed, still living under military occupation, and still fighting for their freedom," the Grammy-winning rapper posted on Instagram.

"I will be donating the entire $1 million of my net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organizations working directly to support the Palestinian people."

Then the artist continued with a challenge: "And I invite Robert Kraft to match my donation. Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting. A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on this earth."

Kraft, the owner of Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, started the ball rolling on Macklemore's removal from Sheeran's tour.

Ad

Robert Kraft responds to Macklemore's message

Rapper Macklemore has backed his protest with his tour earnings and challenged the Stadium owner Robert Kraft to do the same.   © Collage: screenshot/instagram/@macklemore & ARNAUD FINISTRE / AFP

Kraft issued a statement answering Macklemore's challenge, per the Guardian, saying Sheeran had "called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis."

"I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting," Kraft continued.

The organizations or charities that would receive any donated money were not named.

Orlando Bloom's six-year-old daughter gets adorable temporary Pirates of the Caribbean tattoo
Tattoos Orlando Bloom's six-year-old daughter gets adorable temporary Pirates of the Caribbean tattoo

Per Kraft, "Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners, and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges."

With this latest post and pledge, the Thrift Shop singer has again made it clear his goal is to shift the focus back to the suffering of the Palestinian people.

On social media, Macklemore noted that he will continue to advocate for Palestine. He also listed the organizations he will be donating to.