Macklemore's pro-Palestinian set at Ed Sheeran show sparks Israeli walkout

American rapper Macklemore delivered a pro-Palestinian speech during his opening set for Ed Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, calling to "free Palestine" and performing his protest song "Hind's Hall" while footage from Gaza and protests played on screens. Many in the crowd cheered, but some Israeli attendees left early, describing the experience as "like a knife in the heart." The speech included remarks about people from Gaza to the West Bank, and Macklemore also called for freedom for Cuba, Congo, Sudan, and Iran, criticizing U.S. immigration enforcement. The song, released in May 2024, is named after Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Gazan girl killed by Israeli fire, and its streaming revenue was donated to UNRWA. Macklemore was one of several opening acts, alongside Lukas Graham and BIIRD. Israeli attendees told Ynet they were shocked, saying they came to enjoy the show but felt forced to be part of what they called antisemitism. They noted friends who fell in the war or were murdered at the Nova festival, saying it brought everything back. Sheeran had not publicly commented at the time of publication, and Macklemore was scheduled to perform again at the same stadium that evening.