Seattle, Washington – After being dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour, rapper Macklemore is pledging his salary to the cause that got him dumped: Free Palestine.
Following a two-minute speech in support of Palestine and a call of “Free Palestine,” Macklemore was removed as a supporting act from Sheeran’s tour.
In response to Macklemore’s removal, all the opening artists have pulled out of the tour.
Macklemore has now taken an additional step after the drama of his removal.
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“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,” the Grammy-winning rapper posted on Instagram.
“I will be donating the entire $1 million of my net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organizations working directly to support the Palestinian people.”
Then the artist continued with a challenge: “And I invite Robert Kraft to match my donation. Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting. A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on this earth.”
Kraft, the owner of Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, started the ball rolling on Macklemore’s removal from Sheeran’s tour.
Kraft issued a statement answering Macklemore’s challenge, per the Guardian, saying Sheeran had “called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis.”
“I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting,” Kraft continued.
The organizations or charities that would receive any donated money were not named.
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Per Kraft, “Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners, and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges.”
With this latest post and pledge, the Thrift Shop singer has again made it clear his goal is to shift the focus back to the suffering of the Palestinian people.
On social media, Macklemore noted that he will continue to advocate for Palestine. He also listed the organizations he will be donating to.
