Lewis Hamilton has publicly supported rapper Macklemore following his removal from Ed Sheeran’s ongoing tour. The decision to drop Macklemore stemmed from pro-Palestinian comments made during performances in the United States. Hamilton’s message of solidarity was delivered via an Instagram post.
Macklemore had advocated for a ‘free Palestine’ and displayed images of Gaza during shows in New Jersey. This led to Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, banning the rapper from performing at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.
Kraft, who previously engaged Sheeran for his wedding, reportedly influenced other stadium owners. He allegedly presented an ultimatum: if Macklemore remained on tour, Sheeran would be barred from playing their venues.
The businessman stated his venue would not ‘provide a platform for hate speech’ and accused Macklemore of ‘a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric.’ Consequently, Macklemore was removed from the tour schedule.
Hamilton, the Ferrari driver, expressed his support on Instagram, stating:
Thank you for using your voice, standing with you.
This message was posted on Macklemore’s account, where he detailed his removal from the tour. Hamilton’s stance aligns with other public figures who have shown solidarity.
Activist Greta Thunberg also voiced support, saying:
Full solidarity and free Palestine. Artists’ very active silence in the face of injustice and genocide will not be forgotten.
Controversial rap group Kneecap added:
Free Palestine. They can never silence the truth.
Pop artist Paloma Faith commented:
You are a rare and important voice … thank you for existing…. This is so articulate and so powerful. You are a hero.
Swedish songwriter Zara Larsson conveyed her support through a series of heart emojis.
Macklemore clarified in his statement that neither he, Sheeran, nor vocal critic Pink were victims. He emphasized that the Palestinian people are the true victims, citing the killing, starvation, and displacement of men, women, and children.
He highlighted that over 20,000 children have been killed in Gaza alone, stressing that fatalities continue daily. Macklemore aimed to ensure this narrative remained central to the discussion.
The rapper also addressed his long-standing friendship with Sheeran, acknowledging their difficult conversations. He described their talks as rooted in love and respect, despite ending in fundamental disagreement.
Macklemore maintained that his responsibility to convey the truth about events superseded their friendship. He noted Sheeran’s typically apolitical stance was challenged significantly.
Sheeran reportedly found the phrases ‘Free Palestine’ and the Palestinian flag hurtful to many he spoke with. Macklemore countered that if those words were more offensive than the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinian children, a fundamental disconnect existed.
He suggested his platform on tour with Sheeran made him a target, viewing the ‘stage becomes resistance’. Macklemore believes accusations of antisemitism were weaponized to silence his message.
Despite the fallout, Macklemore considered the tour highly successful. He stated that two opportunities to speak before 90,000 people and utter the ‘dangerous’ words were sufficient.
He concluded that if those words cost him the stage while redirecting attention to Palestine, it constituted his most successful tour to date.
