Macklemore’s ‘Free Palestine Tour’ is transparent virtue-signalling

They hoped this meant fans would have a better chance than touts or bots of gaining tickets. Sadly for me, it wasn’t to be.

But I needn’t have worried, because what better way to remedy the disappointment of not getting to see Champagne Supernova live or feeling the goosebumps of Live Forever than the all-new offering from Gaza’s favourite rapping mouthpiece, Macklemore.

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You know the story by now: Macklemore stepped out as the support act for his supposed pal Ed Sheeran on his latest tour and spent portions of his set chanting for “Free Palestine”.

He accompanied this with footage of Gaza and renditions of his pro-Palestine single, Hind’s Hall.

Sheeran’s tour organisers and US venue owners refused to let Macklemore continue on the tour. The apolitical Sheeran decided, as a musician, he’d continue playing music. Pro-Pals subsequently branded him a “genocide enabler” and all manner of libellous tags.

Other support acts bailed on Sheeran; he haemorrhaged social media followers, and despite breaking down in tears after the “worst week of his life” in his first show back, he was accused of making himself the victim and shedding “white tears” by a certain Great British Bake Off alum.

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Macklemore, meanwhile, was being held up as the benchmark for all that is holy and virtuous. Murals emerged in Gaza after this 43-year-old Washington-born rapper – who hasn’t featured in a UK top 40 single since 2019 – took such a noble stand.

Credit where it’s due, Macklemore has pledged to donate the $1m profit he made from supporting Sheeran to Palestinian causes. Sheeran and Kraft are reportedly doubling the stake and doing something similar.

But now he’s taking his virtue-signalling to the next stage. Macklemore unveiled the “Free Palestine Tour” this week in which he “and friends” will sing – or rally – crowds across Europe.

He’s penned in dates for London, Dublin, and Paris next month. To promote the tour, Macklemore couldn’t resist a dig at former pal Sheeran as he lay firmly wedged beneath the green, white, red and black double-decker.

What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage. When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention.

So we’re going on tour. All proceeds will benefit organizations… pic.twitter.com/Eow5Lv1SCH

— Macklemore (@macklemore) September 24, 2026

“What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage,” Macklemore began (I thought it was Sheeran who was making himself the victim?)

He went on: “When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention.

“So we’re going on tour. All proceeds will benefit organizations supporting the Palestinian people and movement.” (sic)

Again, kudos to him for pledging profits to the cause. But can we try not to ignore that this deeply emotive and fraught cause is now being somewhat manipulated to further the career of an ailing rapper whose sole number one was about a Thrift Shop in 2013?

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Just look at the data. According to ChartMasters, Macklemore’s monthly Spotify listeners stood at 26million in May 2026.

At the end of August, around the same time Macklemore was unveiled as a support act for Sheeran, his monthly listeners surged to the 33m mark, according to SpotifyTracked.

Correlation is not causation. Coincidences happen. The rise may also have something to do with the release of his protest song Hind’s Hall 2, which, of course, was in aid of Palestine.

And in the first week of September, his monthly listeners stayed around the same mark. But by September 23, after he’d been dismissed from Sheeran’s tour and become the pro-Pal poster boy, Macklemore’s monthly listener figure rocketed north to a little below 36m.

I wonder what could have happened to gain three million extra fans in a matter of weeks?

Don’t take my word for it. Within moments of Macklemore publishing the statement that threw Sheeran under the bus and their decade-plus-long friendship with it, pro-Pals signalled their intent to get behind this shiny new keffiyeh-wearing toy.

“After what Macklemore has done, I’d buy his music now even if I didn’t like it just to show respect and support him,” one X user with 143k followers penned to their fanbase.

“Oh so @macklemore is a brave man with a moral compass. Is that why Zionists want to cancel him? You have a new fan now @macklemore,” another applauded.

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So while his new tour may seem the most philanthropic of gestures, let’s not pretend his record label won’t be rubbing their hands together at the prospect of further publicity and streams that will come with it.

He won’t be alone, of course. “And friends” remains vague for now, but I can hazard a guess at who may accompany the Thrift Shop – or should that be ‘Grift Shop’ – singer on the dates.

I’m sure a certain Irish rap trio will be able to promote peace in the Middle East by screaming angrily into their microphones while in their tri-coloured balaclavas.

Don’t forget Glastonbury darlings Bob Vylan. They’ll undoubtedly jump at the chance to perform all their fantastic records, such as… anyone?

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And I’m sure that after her kids have nodded off to the lullaby that is the sound of her screeching “Free Palestine”, Paloma Faith will head over to perform all of her hit.

If Macklemore was so keen to impress and support the Palestinian people, I wonder why he didn’t add a date when he could perform in front of the Palestinian people.

The Ramallah Cultural Palace in the West Bank remains open, while the Al-Kasaba Theatre and Cinematheque can host hundreds of concertgoers.

What about The Freedom Theatre in Jenin? Or Ramallah’s The Palestine Music Space (PalMS)? The Wadina Amphitheater in Nablus can host 22,000 music fans; why not go and perform the same-sex equality ballad, Same Love, there?

The “Free Palestine Tour” may result in millions of dollars going towards Palestinians in need, but don’t be mistaken; it will be small fry compared to the dollars lining the pockets of Macklemore and his management through streaming and future endeavours.

Maybe I’ll wait to see if Noel and Liam reunite in 2028 instead.