Macklemore brought his Free Palestine Tour to a close on Friday at London’s OVO Arena Wembley. More than 12,500 people attended the sold-out show.
The rapper also addressed being removed from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour. Sheeran previously said the decision was made by a promoter, and that venues had threatened to withdraw if Macklemore remained on the bill.
“It was more uncomfortable for me to stay silent than to say something,” Macklemore told the audience. He said speaking out was not an act of bravery but a human response, adding that children in Gaza were “our children.”
The London show featured Aja Monet, Cure for Paranoia, Dana Saleh, Nemahsis, Lucas Jones, Paloma Faith, Roze, Shadia Mansour and Vic Mensa. Guest speakers included climate activist Greta Thunberg and actors Mark Ruffalo, Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem and Cynthia Nixon.
Macklemore’s team said all proceeds from the Dublin, Paris and London concerts would support organizations working with Palestinian communities through humanitarian relief, medical care, education, advocacy and community initiatives.
Citing figures from the British Red Cross, the publication reported that the death toll in Gaza had exceeded 69,000. Almost 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack.
