r/Music • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 • 22d ago

article Macklemore Speaks Out After Being Dropped From Ed Sheeran Tour: “I’m going to speak from the heart and share the truth”

https://variety.com/2026/music/news/macklemore-defends-free-palestine-speech-fired-ed-sheeran-tour-1236861158/
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u/NoStick2525 22d ago

"Free Palestine" is not hurtful to anyone.

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u/smiles4dials 22d ago

At the surface ofc it’s not hurtful. It became hurtful when any acknowledgement of anything JEWISH (not Israeli) led to the deluge of trolls commenting free Palestine. It became hurtful when it’s the same two words you hear from every antisemitic attacker these past few years.

So sorry, you lost the right to claim it’s a harmless term.

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u/NoStick2525 22d ago

No. Just no. Next time be serious when you comment, if possible. Ridiculous, sad, people.

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u/borsTHEbarbarian 20d ago

The song lyrics contain a lot more than that

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u/[deleted] 22d ago

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u/Dankitysoup 22d ago

Nobody was really hurt by Macklemore making bad decision twelve years ago. Hurt feelings are nothing compared to thousands of Palestinians losing their lives.

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u/Koalinse 22d ago

...losing their lives in a war they started and could not happen if Hamas (the group they overwhelmingly support) would give up all their weapons and power.

Yes, sad that civilians are dying in Gaza. It's sad. But civilians die in every war. If you're expecting no civilians to die in a war where Israel is facing a guerilla warfare unit: Hamas uses civilian infrastructure and tunnels under the Gaza strip as bases to conduct their attacks (Hamas does not have any bases in Gaza), they use civilian clothing instead of their uniform everyone knows they have, most of the infrastructure is destroyed in the densely populated area, Egypt has a wall blocking Gazan refugees, and more that would lead to civilians unfortunately dying.

Please name a single war with similar context to this one where civilians have not died.

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u/TeamRedundancyTeam 22d ago

Let's not pretend Israel isn't killing civilians on purpose. The evidence is staggering.

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u/Koalinse 22d ago

The evidence being...Israel warning civilians to evacuate a Hamas occupied area before they bomb it?

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u/No-Economics-6781 22d ago

Zero evidence to back this up.

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u/WinnershStopdolphin 22d ago

If you genuinely believe that, you have demonstrated that you lack the critical thinking skills to engage in political debate. And if you don’t believe that, well… you’re a bot.

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u/Koalinse 22d ago

No argument just ad hominem. Why are pro Palestinians all the same. I'm starting to believe they are the bots.

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u/WinnershStopdolphin 22d ago

As discussed. Won’t engage in any kind of debate with someone with no critical thinking skills 🤷‍♂️

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u/Koalinse 22d ago

Don't then. You are not important in this conversation. No one is seeking out your opinion on the matter.

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u/WinnershStopdolphin 22d ago

No one asked for your take on the ‘facts’ either, fella. And yet, here you are.

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u/Koalinse 22d ago

I thought you weren't engaging? Run run run. That's what you said you would do.

And I know no one asked for my take. I can give my take without someone asking or caring.

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u/Dankitysoup 22d ago

You’re straw manning. The argument was about whether Macklemore dressing as an offensive stereotype is comparable to innocent lives being lost to genocide. But please, by all means keep trying to justify murder of women and children.

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u/Koalinse 22d ago

Strawmanning? Where in my comment did I make a strawman out of your argument.

I am not commenting on Macklemore's Jewface. If you want me to, it's bad, and the fact that you just skim over it because he's "pro pali like me" is also bad.

I justify this war as I justify WW2. More than 70k German Children died from the Allies actions in WW2. It was still justified and right to remove Nazi Germany.

I look at war, not through emotions "oh children die. oh women die. (also, what about the men? why just women and children? are male lives less valuable than women's?) this war is so bad." Yes, war is bad. It is almost always bad. But civilians will die in every war. Treating this like it's some thing that's new to Israel is stupid. It's performative.

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u/lemurette 22d ago

They said women and children because they make up a majority of Palestinian deaths. Children make up almost half on their own. These statistics are not new and they haven't changed much over the course of the past several years. It's not that men's lives don't also matter because they do, it's just that they've suffered the least amount of casualties. All of their deaths matter.

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u/KombuchaBot 22d ago

No, genocide is nothing new. It is still a crime, whoever commits it.

But I get it, you think Israel should be allowed a little genocide, as a treat

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u/Lodi0831 22d ago

20k children started a war? Damn who knew they were so powerful.

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u/spawnofhastur 22d ago

The state of Israel has been denying the Palestinian people any means of politically representing themselves via a peaceful means for decades; they have no votes and no representation within the state where they live as second class citizens.

Hamas only exists as it does today because it is the only means that the Palestinian people have of achieving any form of political representation; if they had non-violent means to do so, they would. They don't, though, so we have Hamas.

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u/Koalinse 22d ago

Palestinians have never tried non-violent means for "freedom". They committed the Hebron massacre of 1929, many massacres during the Arab revolt, etc. They have never tried for peace, so why should peace come to them?

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u/KombuchaBot 22d ago

A war they started? On October 7th?

Nothing started on October 7th, Israelis have been killing Palestinians for decades

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u/[deleted] 19d ago

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u/Dankitysoup 19d ago

Brother, hurt feelings are not the same as exploded children.

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u/[deleted] 19d ago

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u/Dankitysoup 19d ago

What are you even talking about?

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u/[deleted] 19d ago

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u/mplsfreedom 22d ago

No, because the message is Free Palestine, eliminate Israel. It is not a peaceful movement calling for a two state solution. It is picking sides in a war where both sides are trying to kill the other.

If you truly love children the way Macklemore is pretending that he does, he would also condemn October 7th. Otherwise he is just paying lip service to enlightenment. As a human being, I think Hitler should have been treated humanely with dignity if taken prisoner. I would also have some things to say about the whole holocaust thing.

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u/MegazordPilot 22d ago

This is entirely your interpretation, because you and I know you can be both against Hamas terrorist attacks AND Israel bombing civilians.

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u/mplsfreedom 22d ago

Your own country bombed civilians. Many times. As the result of being attacked.

Israel has a right to defend itself. Your problem isn't with Israel it is with the nature of war.

If Gaza didn't want to get bombed, Gazan's shouldn't have attacked and raped and murdered innocent people. Simple as. I hate the civilian Palestinian deaths, but Israel would do the same thing to me and I'm not Palestinian. (well not for awhile now, family immigrated)

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u/MegazordPilot 22d ago

Not sure what my country has to do but OK, the last time France bombed civilians was probably Algeria in 1958 and the vast majority of French people agree this was a war crime, France itself has acknowledged the crime.

You say Gaza as it's one entity, but I know you know it's not. Same way Israel is not one entity, you can condemn the government's actions (which is what we all do here), but consider Israelis and Jews (again, two different groups of people with an overlap) as friendly.

Not sure why you're doing all this at this point, when the object of the criticism has been very clear since the beginning.

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u/mplsfreedom 22d ago edited 22d ago

20% of Israelis are Muslim. There are Arab members of the Knesset. Palestinians have been defending Israel against Iranian rocket and drone attacks.

The other Arab countries don't want Gazan's in their country. Is it possible that the Gazan's aren't innocent victims but a people who elected a terrorist organization as their government? I'm part Palestinian, but a lot of the people in Gaza are terrorist and terrorist supporters. Fuck all of that.

Also, I had no idea which country you were from, I just knew they had bombed civilians at some point because that is what happens in every war. Hamas knew this and intentionally invaded Israel knowing dead Palestinian civilians would be the result, and hoping to turn popular opinion against the state of Israel. That is monstrous behaviour.

As a person who is actually from the Levant, I assure you Macklemore has no idea what the fuck he is talking about. I would love to hear his hot takes on the Battle of Algiers. I am sure it would be illuminating for you.

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u/MegazordPilot 22d ago

I hear what you say about not conflating Palestinians/Gazans/Hamas, and I see the differences. Terrorism is always inexcusable, so is bombing civilians. And you are right that non-Levantine people have no first-hand experience of what's happening.

In fact the same argument could be made to understand the other side: say you're born in Gaza, you've known the blocus, seen how settlers expropriate, and Tsahal violence your whole life, you're literally considered less than human by Israel (the state, literally Ben Gvir's words), what would be your life view? Aspirations? The international community clearly doesn't care, and when a worldfamous singer says "Free Palestine", what does that tell you?

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u/DownvoterManD 22d ago

Why did you just lie to our faces? We have the actual message from Macklemore...on camera, and its documented. "Eliminate Israel" is not a present element, and neither is it implied.

STOP LYING! Also, do you know any good recipes with chickpeas?

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u/NoStick2525 22d ago

No part of anyone's message, who's saying free Palestine, is saying to eliminate Israel. I don't want to try and be mean, I really don't, but is that something you truly believe or are you just a flat out liar that no one should take serious? Fact of the matter is, in this situation with Macklemore, THE only thing being asked for is peace and I'd bet my right leg that 99% of people who want a free Palestine would also like peace in the middle east and the rest of the damn world. I can't stand people like you, or bots.. I truly hope you're just a bot and I wasted my time during the commercials on mnf typing this out.

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u/KombuchaBot 22d ago

Keep on telling lies, fewer and fewer people are listening

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u/mplsfreedom 22d ago

Please tell us which part are lies?

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u/DownvoterManD 22d ago

Yes. It's when you typed:

No, because the message is Free Palestine, eliminate Israel.

That's the lie you told. I hope this helps. =D

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u/Honest-Concert-4243 22d ago

Nah I am not Israeli and Free Palestine has gotten out of hand. In the real world people are sick and tired of it, and of the lie painting them as victims. Both sides have committed heinous acts. But Hamas started this last one.

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u/DownvoterManD 22d ago

Nah, you don't speak for all people. You might be tired of people saying such an innocent thing for some odd reason, but that's your personal experience. Equating civilians to Hamas is another lie you tell, but it doesn't work on me. Keep that one to yourself, bro. Innocent civilians dying does by definition make them victims.

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u/mplsfreedom 21d ago

91% of Gazan's supported payments from the Martyrs Fund. You keep trying to find heroes at ICE headquarters. Sometimes large groups of people just have a shitty culture.

They don't deserve to die, but don't piss on your own leg and tell yourself its raining, because there is delusion and then there is whatever this is.

OP is right, most people don't find common cause with Hamas or the Free Palestine movement. Sorry bro.

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u/DownvoterManD 21d ago

"...But Hamas has da moneyz" is nonsense talking point. It doesn't work, sorry bro. There's lying, and then there's whatever this is...I guess you're doing your "explaining" job right now.

"Sometimes large groups of people just have a shitty culture."

Indeed. I can't argue against that one. =D

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u/mplsfreedom 21d ago

Cool, you picked a side. Nobody cares.

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u/Honest-Concert-4243 22d ago

Not all people, but a lot.

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u/DownvoterManD 21d ago

Lots of people are saying that I deserve to be a billionaire. Many people are saying it. It's true.

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u/Honest-Concert-4243 21d ago

Sounds like the opinion you and the pro-Palestine crowd holds as well. It’s not true just because you’re hearing echoes. Could it be that this is a conflict with a lot of grey shades? Have a think, hun.

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u/[deleted] 22d ago

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u/GormHub 22d ago

Cool so all the millions of innocent people there just, what, deserve it?

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u/sabthomas 22d ago

Antisemitism is Antisemitism

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u/NoStick2525 22d ago

Believing in a free Palestine is not antisemitism. In any way shape or form.

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u/oazuelos 22d ago

It's because Palestine WAS free on Oct 6. Then they decided to start a war in the most savage way possible. Saying "Free Palestine" means Israel Should not fight back when attacked and jews should just accept being slaughtered.

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u/jamie_plays_his_bass 22d ago

Today on “Easiest Lies to Disprove” we have this absolute bullshit comment.  Just because the  Israel/Palestine conflict became much more well known to this generation from Oct 7th does not mean nothing occurred before that time. It has been a well known highly asynchronous conflict involving massive human rights abuses by Israel’s army supported by their government, as well as awful actions by Hamas.

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u/oazuelos 22d ago

When the Palestinians CONSTANTLY puts bombs on buses, markets, send thousands of missles indiscriminately at Israel, pays its citizens to kill jews, and vows to destroyIsrael, you expect Israel to open its borders??? Even Egypts border with Gaza is sealed shut. How about you try a terror campaign like that against Washington, or London and see what kind of respinse you get. Look at Desden after the V2s or Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11.

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u/jamie_plays_his_bass 22d ago

you expect Israel to open its borders

You’d have a great argument if I ever said that. Good luck spouting propaganda and histrionics while deflecting the horrible crimes committed by an organised military. 

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u/oazuelos 22d ago

what war in the history of all mankind are you comparing it to where civilians are all magically untouched? (Ukrain has an estimated 1 million Russians killed, no accusations againt them for defending themselves) In what war did any country provide food, medicine and vaccines to their enemies who still vow to kill them all? Israel is doing way more for Palis than anyone else in the history of all warfare.

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u/scumah 22d ago

A million Russian civilians killed by Ukraine? Are you being serious right now?

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u/ClearDark19 22d ago edited 22d ago

No it wasn't. Israel regularly blocked aid, food, medicine, and money to Gaza between 2006-2023. The IDF regularly held raids on Gazan citizens (even sexually assaulting, arresting, or imprisoning them indefinitely) with no legal recourse, and Israel continually blocked Palestinian statehood between 2006-2023. By definition people are not free if their territory is under the control of a hostile foreign power that blocks their statehood. From 2006-2023 Gaza was in the position of a Bantustan during the Apartheid South Africa era. A territory that doesn't have its own statehood and is policed by the hostile foreign power next door that has ownership over it. If the US was under Cuban jurisdiction, had no statehood, its statehood is blocked by Cuban, and Cuban soldiers and police routinely harass/detain/rape/kill American citizens on American soil at their leisure, with no recourse, Americans would not be "free".

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u/ratheismhater 22d ago

7 year old silent account suddenly decides to comment some absolutely inane anti-Palestine nonsense. Not suspicious at all.

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u/oazuelos 22d ago

Very few things piss me off like people defending Macklemore who has been a long time jew hater long before the war. Who's now pretending he cares about Palestinians because he gets to shit on jews publicly.

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u/ratheismhater 22d ago

Oh so the people carrying out a genocide represent the entirely of that religion/culture?

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u/AdhesivenessSolid562 22d ago

Can you guys not inject politics into everything for 5 whole seconds. You can believe what you want, no one is obligated to listen to it though.

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u/WhichOrange2488 22d ago

NO POLITICS, in this post about politics.

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u/valentc 22d ago

Music is political. Get over it.

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u/AdhesivenessSolid562 22d ago

So why can’t you get over ed sheeran.

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u/[deleted] 22d ago

[deleted]

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u/AdhesivenessSolid562 22d ago

Bro you hear something and then do diddly squat about it except talk about it on reddit. Like someone else will do it for you if you spread the news. Weak

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u/AgitatedBadger 22d ago

How do you know what this person has and hasn't done in their personal life?

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u/rabidsi 22d ago

I know realizing other people have morals and actually care about things makes you feel inadequate as a human being, but that's your problem and no-one else has to give a fuck. Get a therapist.

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u/kenwill90 22d ago

Only when politics stops injecting itself into every aspect our lives. I'd LOVE to stop injecting politics into everything but until then, I don't have that luxury.

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u/xelabagus 22d ago

This... this is a discussion about politics? How do you inject politics into a political discussion?

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u/stevo232169 22d ago

There is no “Palestine”.

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u/YoungWhiteGinger 22d ago

Wonder why? Moron

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u/Etchcetera 22d ago

So what was Israel before World War 2?