Macklemore Leads Paris Benefit, uniting Aurora and other artists for Palestinian Cause

At a sold‑out concert in Paris on Thursday, Macklemore headlined the second stop of his Free Palestine Tour, a series of benefit shows launched after he was removed from Ed Sheeran’s stadium performance for speaking out in support of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

The lineup featured a diverse group of musicians rallying behind the Palestinian cause, including Aurora, DJ Habibeats, Pomme, Portugal the Man, Redvell, Siba, Tamer Nafar, Xiuhtezcati Martinez and Zeyne. Aurora performed “The Seed,” a standout track from her album A Different Kind of Human (Step 2).

Macklemore told the crowd that the artists and speakers had gathered with “one common goal: a free Palestine.” He warned that erasing a people’s history could not be done by ignoring it, describing the moment as “a collective awakening, remembering who we are.” He noted the inheritance of trauma, borders, hatred and urged that “you cannot dehumanize another human being without dehumanizing yourself.”

Turning to the media, he observed, “I look at the news. I watch the stories. I look at the erasure. We’ve all seen a live‑streamed genocide unfold for the past three years right in the palm of our hand. You cannot dehumanize another human being without dehumanizing yourself.”

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In addition to the musical performances, Macklemore invited guest speakers Ahmed Shihab‑Eldin, Carice van Houten and Francesca Albanese to the stage. Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Israeli‑occupied West Bank and Gaza, delivered a passionate appeal. She highlighted “Palestinian steadfastness” as a catalyst that has awakened millions to “the horror of the world we inherited, and the possibility to change this world.” Addressing those who protect the powerful and silence dissent, she said, “I have three words for you: work with us, not against us, and do that for you and for your children.” She concluded with a call to unity: “Let’s dance together, beautifully diverse in language, faith, gender, love, and history. Let’s think together, move together, act together, dance together, dream together. Let’s turn awakening into organization, outreach into solidarity, and solidarity into action.”

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Macklemore kicked off the Free Palestine Tour in Dublin on Monday, featuring special guests Hozier, Kneecap and Boega, the backing band that withdrew from Ed Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with his stance.

The Seattle rapper will conclude the charity concert series in London on Friday. Proceeds will support a coalition of organizations championing the Palestinian movement, including Medical Aid for Palestinians, the Palestinian Youth Movement, Heal Palestine, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Jewish Voices for Peace, and the UNRWA USA National Committee.

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