Macklemore brands Free Palestine tour gig ‘one of most beautiful moments’ of his life in new statement ahead of London date

Writing on Instagram on Tuesday evening, the musician – whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty – said: “I had tears in my eyes the whole night.

“Free Palestine Tour night one. One of the most beautiful moments I’ve ever been a part of Dublin.”

The three-date tour stops at Paris’s Accor Arena on Thursday before concluding in London, with all shows having sold out immediately.

The rapper launched the Dublin performance with an impassioned address to the crowd, defending his stance on Palestine. He told the audience: “Six weeks ago, it was two words. Two words is all that it took.

“Two words that are rooted in love and liberation. Not against anybody, not divisive. Not a call for hatred. But a call to recognise our shared humanity.”

He continued: “Free Palestine. I said, ‘Free Palestine’. The same thing that I want for all of us: freedom, dignity, the right to exist without fear.

“Being able to raise our children in the homes that we grew up in, not having to prove our humanity to the rest of the world.”

The crowd cheered as Macklemore pressed on: “Somehow, those words have become more controversial than the suffering that made them necessary. That’s why we’re here tonight.

“Throughout history, music has given people a place to resist.

“To come together as a collective, to share our grief, to share our stories, to move from the heart, to mobilise people with the frequency of love.

“The heartbeat in our drum that makes us feel alive, that makes us feel connected.”

The speech kicked off an evening that blended music with political solidarity, with the rapper using the tour as a direct response to the backlash he faced after being removed from Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour in September over his pro-Palestinian remarks onstage.

The Dublin stage welcomed a string of high-profile guests throughout the evening, including Hozier, Kneecap and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham.

Meanwhile, Hollywood star Mark Ruffalo addressed the audience via video link.

Mr Cunningham urged those present to “celebrate the humanity and life that Palestinians have fought so hard to protect” amid the “suffering in Gaza”.

Kneecap told the crowd there is “still not a ceasefire in Gaza” and pledged to “continue to use our platform for what we believe we need to do”.

Mr Ruffalo called on fans to “keep fighting for a free Palestine and for humanity all over the world”.

Folk band Beoga, who had been among Mr Sheeran’s support acts before walking out in solidarity with Macklemore, also performed.

The controversy traces back to early September, when Macklemore used his slot as Mr Sheeran’s opening act at a New Jersey stadium to declare “Free Palestine” and perform a song dedicated to pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University.