AOC weighs in on Macklemore, Ed Sheeran controversy
Rapper Macklemore was dropped from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran's "Loop Tour" following pro-Palestinian comments that he made at a show in New Jersey earlier this month.
More Stories
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is weighing in on the Macklemore and Ed Sheeran controversy.
Asked if she would change the radio if Ed Sheeran came on, AOC said "I am."
"It's become clear that this is not just about one music artist, or two music artist, but this is about how a handful of stadium owners and elite and can prevent an entire massive issue in this case, the genocide in Gaza," AOC told a TMZ reporter.
Rapper Macklemore was dropped from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran's "Loop Tour" following pro-Palestinian comments that he made at a show in New Jersey earlier this month.
The rapper shouted 'free Palestine' and displayed images on screens of the devastation caused by the war in Gaza during a concert at MetLife Stadium.
It came as Macklemore was preforming his song 'Hind's Hall'. The song released in 2024 is a political protest against the war in Gaza, the lyrics call for a solidarity with Palestinians and support for student protest movements.
Sheeran says that the decision to drop the rapper from the tour was made by promoters.
Meanwhile, Robert Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium where the tour is set to make a stop on September 25th and 26th, decided to ban Macklemore from participating as the comments did not align with the venues goals of 'providing a welcoming environment' and 'ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech.'
"I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same -- peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate," Kraft wrote in statement.
Several other opening acts also decided to withdraw from the tour in support of Macklemore, including Lukas Graham and singer-songwriter Finneas.
On social media, Macklemore vowed to pledge $1 million of his net earnings from the tour to six organizations working to support Palestinian people. He asked Kraft to match his donation.
Kraft responded saying that Sheeran asked him to commit $2 million to match his donation.
"Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges," Kraft wrote in a statement.
