Just weeks after being removed from Ed Sheeran's tour following his pro-Palestine comments, rapper Macklemore announced on social media that three upcoming European shows dubbed the "Macklemore and Friends Free Palestine Tour" are sold out .
"I'm honestly blown away," the Seattle native wrote. "When those in power try to silence our calls for liberation, art will always be a form of resistance."
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Macklemore will head across the pond for the three shows — in Dublin, Paris and London — beginning on Oct. 26, where he'll play the 3Arena, Accor Arena and OVO Arena Wembley respectively. The 3Arena and OVO Arena Wembley boast a concert capacity of 12,500-13,000, while Accor Arena can hold around 20,000. Tickets ranged between $84-$95 , while tickets to a sold out solo Colorado show on Oct. 22 are reselling for as high as $1,400 .
The Ed Sheeran controversy
Macklemore announced in mid-September that he was removed from Ed Sheeran's tour following comments he made on stage that included, "Free Palestine. I want those words to be loud and clear, so the people from Gaza, all the way to the occupied West Bank, know that we have not forgotten them."
He claimed that billionaire stadium owner Robert Kraft told Sheeran that he'd "rallied some of the other stadium owners" to not allow the tour to play at their venues with Macklemore present. The tour's promoter confirmed that some U.S. venues refused to let the concert proceed with Macklemore on the bill.
Meanwhile, Sheeran's tour continues, though all of the original supporting acts have since dropped out .
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The risk of mixing art and political activism
Macklemore has long tackled political issues in his music and activism, from his 2012 song "Same Love" that supports same-sex marriage and the 2024 pro-Palestinian track "Hind's Hall" to speaking out against President Trump .
Moneywise reached out to the rapper's representatives for comment but didn't immediately hear back.
Macklemore's ability to rebound from the controversy and establish his own headlining tour, however, is not only remarkable but also counter to the devastating blowback other artists have faced when taking a political stand.
While some artists, like John Lennon and Yoko Ono, managed to successfully incorporate their political activism into their music and brand, others faced harsh criticism and even career-ending scandals.
The Dixie Chicks, for example, became the subject of CD-burning parties and radio boycotts after they spoke out against President George W. Bush in 2003 at a concert, declaring they were "ashamed that the president of the United States of America is from Texas."
And Sinead O'Connor's career was derailed entirely after she protested sexual abuse in the Catholic Church by ripping up a photo of Pope John Paul II during a performance on Saturday Night Live .
As for Macklemore, he's moving forward with the tour and, while he hasn't announced the other artists joining him, the shows will raise funds for organizations that support Palestinians.
"The response to these shows," he added on Instagram , "is another reminder of how many people across the world are standing together for a free Palestine."
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This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: Macklemore says he's 'blown away' after his 'Free Palestine' tour 'sold out immediately' after Ed Sheeran controversy
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