Macklemore ends Free Palestine tour at London's Wembley before 12,500 fans

Final London show

On Friday, 30 October, Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, closed his Free Palestine tour at the OVO Arena Wembley in London. The Independent put attendance at more than 12,500 for the sold-out show. The tour began on Monday, 26 October at the 3Arena in Dublin, where Irish singer Hozier, the Belfast rap trio Kneecap and the Irish folk band Beoga performed alongside him. Shows in Dublin, Paris and London were benefit concerts, and all proceeds are to go to organisations that support Palestinians through humanitarian relief, medical care, education and advocacy.

What Macklemore told the crowd

He said he had kept scrolling through images of what he called a horrific, unimaginable catastrophe, and that staying silent had become harder than speaking out. He told the audience he did not think saying something was brave or courageous, adding that he believed it was human. He said the children in Gaza were 'our children' and thanked everyone who had come out to be part of the community. He also set aside the views of 50 members of the House of Lords who had urged the UK government to ban the London show, calling the concert a story of equality for all human beings.

“I believe that saying something is human.”

The Sheeran controversy was not the only thread running through the night. Several speakers joined him from the stage, including the Syrian-born singer Lina Makoul, the American-Palestinian DJ Habibeats and the actor Liam Cunningham.

Speakers and fundraising

Singer Paloma Faith, 45, who said she had given birth to her third child seven months earlier, joined him onstage and spoke about motherhood. She said she had worried about political alignment because she had 'a family to support', then asked why her children should matter more than children in Gaza, Palestine, Sudan, Yemen and Congo.

“Every child deserves to have their mother hold them in their arms and say 'it's going to be safe'.”

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg spoke in person and argued that benefit concerts and donations were not enough. Mark Ruffalo, Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem, Cynthia Nixon and Julian Casablancas took part remotely in some cases. Repubblica put the Dublin audience at 13,000, and Kneecap and Beoga sang with Macklemore at the European dates.

“Do not for one second think that you have done enough by attending a benefit concert or by donating money, because the occupation will not end by philanthropy and slogans.”

Dublin13,000

London12,500

Dublin

13000 people

London

12500 people

Data from the article text

The Ed Sheeran row

Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour in September after pro-Palestinian remarks he made onstage. The row grew after the first concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, when the Israeli-American Council, a Jewish American organisation, opened a petition seeking his removal from the remaining dates. At the second New Jersey show, Macklemore repeated 'Free Palestine' and said his words, and his criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, were not aimed at Jewish people. Sheeran said the decision belonged to his promoter and that venues had threatened to cancel if Macklemore stayed on the bill. Sheeran later apologised, admitting he had made mistakes in handling the situation. Kneecap and Beoga left Sheeran's US tour in solidarity with Macklemore.