Macklemore Donates $1 Million to Palestinian Charities After Being Dropped From Ed Sheeran’s Tour

LONDON, Sept 17 — US rapper Macklemore has pledged his entire net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour—totaling US$1 million—to charities supporting Palestinian people following his removal from the concert lineup over comments he made regarding Gaza.

The musician, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, announced the decision in an Instagram post on Wednesday, stating his desire to refocus public conversation on humanitarian needs in the region.

“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,” Macklemore wrote. “I will be donating the entire 1 million (dollars) of my net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organisations working directly to support the Palestinian people.”

The funds will be split among six relief organizations: the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, UNRWA USA, and American Near East Refugee Aid.

The rapper’s departure has triggered a widespread fallout across the tour, with all of Sheeran’s remaining supporting acts—including Grammy-winning musician Finneas, Danish singer Lukas Graham, Irish singer Aaron Rowe, and backing band Beoga—subsequently pulling out of all remaining concert dates.

The controversy intensified after Macklemore alleged that Robert Kraft, owner of the Kraft Group and Gillette Stadium, contacted Sheeran and threatened to cancel the stadium performance unless the rapper was removed from the bill. Kraft defended the stance, citing what he described as Macklemore’s “broader history of anti-Semitic rhetoric and imagery.”

In response, Macklemore challenged the billionaire businessman to match his $1 million contribution, writing: “Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting.”

Addressing the situation on social media, Sheeran clarified that removing Macklemore was a decision made by tour promoters after multiple venues threatened to cancel upcoming dates. The “Shape Of You” singer stated he was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine,” emphasized that he was “not complicit” in the decision, and reiterated his respect for Macklemore as an artist.

Sheeran is scheduled to continue his tour on September 19 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The tour retains 17 remaining dates across North and South America, concluding on December 11 in Mexico City.

-NMT