Macklemore, a Grammy-winning rapper known for his socially conscious lyrics, performed as an opening act for Ed Sheeran at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Friday. During his set, he sang "Free Palestine" and delivered a speech addressing the situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. He told the audience he wanted people in those regions to know they had not been forgotten. His performance included his 2024 protest song "Hind’s Hall," which criticizes Israel’s military actions in Gaza. His remarks and the performance have sparked controversy and debate. The Israeli-American Council (IAC), an organization that advocates for the interests of American Jews, has called on Ed Sheeran to remove Macklemore from the U.S. leg of his tour. The IAC launched a petition arguing that Macklemore used the concert stage to promote a "one-sided political agenda." They criticized the event for displaying images from Gaza and other political messages on stadium screens, claiming the concert was not meant to be a political rally or activist event. The IAC also asked Sheeran’s team to clarify whether Macklemore’s speech, visuals, and performance were approved in advance and to set clear boundaries for political messaging on the tour stage. Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, explained during the show that one of his main reasons for joining the tour was to express his views. He said, "A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine." He wanted his message to reach people in Gaza and the West Bank, emphasizing that they had not been forgotten. He also spoke about his 11-year-old daughter, Sloan, and expressed a desire for her to grow up safely and peacefully. He said, "I want to see her grow up, I want to see her go to school, to fall in love, to figure out meaning, purpose, joy, her existence on this planet. I want it to be the most beautiful possible." Macklemore is scheduled to perform as a support act for eight more dates on Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour in the U.S. until November. The rapper has won four Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Song for "Thrift Shop" in 2012 and Best Rap Album for The Heist. The Independent has reached out to representatives for both Sheeran and Macklemore for comment.