Jewish-American pop icon Pink addressed the intensifying storm surrounding Ed Sheeran’s recent stadium concert, where opening act Macklemore drew widespread outrage by using his stage time to broadcast anti-Israel rhetoric.
The singer reshared an Instagram post by watchdog organization StopAntisemitism condemning the performance, echoing their characterization of the spectacle as “awful”.
In the post shared by Pink, StopAntisemitism criticized the scene at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium: “Jewish fans bought tickets to see Ed Sheeran, not to be ambushed by Macklemore’s anti-Israel propaganda. The rapper walked onstage draped in a keffiyeh, shouted ‘Free Palestine,’ falsely accused Israel of ‘genocide,’ and turned a mainstream concert into an anti-Israel political rally. Ed Sheeran – attendees deserve apologies and refunds; this is completely unacceptable.”
During his scheduled opening set before tens of thousands of fans, Macklemore delivered an overt pro-Palestinian speech while wearing a keffiyeh.
The rapper told the audience he wanted people “from Gaza to the West Bank” to know they had not been forgotten, spoke of peace versus “bombs and planes,” and concluded with calls to “free Palestine” alongside mentions of other global conflict zones.
Video: social media
Later in the set, he performed his anti-Israel protest track “Hind’s Hall” while giant stadium screens broadcast footage from Gaza and pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Originally released in 2024 during demonstrations across U.S. college campuses, the track levels accusations of “genocide” and “apartheid” against Israel, aims at Zionism, and claims the Nakba has never ended.Macklemore is listed on Ed Sheeran’s official tour roster as a scheduled opening act for multiple upcoming stops across the United States, including dates in Philadelphia, Foxborough, Atlanta, and Indianapolis.
The performance triggered fierce backlash from Jewish and Israeli families who purchased tickets expecting a music tour rather than an anti-Israel political platform.
Neither Ed Sheeran nor his tour management has publicly commented on the controversy.