London (GNP): US rapper Macklemore has called his Free Palestine tour of three European cities the favourite thing he has ever been a part of. He shared the reflection on Instagram on Tuesday, days after the final show in London.
He said he was overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone involved in that last night, from the musicians and speakers to the audience. In his view, the tour showed that something profound happens when people unite for the freedom of others, with the crowd and performers playing equal parts.
Macklemore also spoke about the pressure surrounding the cause. He said that backing Palestinian life and freedom has become controversial in the current climate, and that voicing it can carry a cost. When people set those costs aside and come together, he added, love is found, and he could still feel it days after London.
Behind the scenes, the run demanded heavy effort. The rapper said he spent five intense weeks reaching out to artists, organising, handling logistics and attending constant meetings. Now, he said, he finally feels able to take a breath, although he admitted there is still a long way to go.
The London show on Friday completed a run that began in Dublin and moved on to Paris. It sold out at Wembley Arena, as the earlier dates did, with fans in keffiyehs and Palestinian flags filling the venues.
All proceeds from the shows went to organisations supporting Palestinians through humanitarian relief, medical care, education, advocacy and community initiatives.
He was joined in London by musicians including Paloma Faith, Vic Mensa and Nemahsis. Climate activist Greta Thunberg and actors Mark Ruffalo, Susan Sarandon and Javier Bardem also addressed the crowd.
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The tour was born out of a dispute. Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour of the Americas after making a pro-Palestine speech during an appearance in New York. Some venue owners objected to his remarks and threatened to cancel Sheeran’s shows if Macklemore performed alongside him.
Macklemore has used his platform for this cause before. In 2024, he released a song titled “Hind’s Hall”, supporting student protesters at Columbia University in the US. They had occupied a campus building and renamed it after Hind Rajab, a six-year-old girl killed in Gaza.
Macklemore said, “I feel honoured to have shared that experience with you all.”
