Macklemore Donates Rp15 Billion from Ed Sheeran Tour to Palestine, Challenges Robert Kraft to Donate Too
Baca dalam 60 detik
- Macklemore menyatakan akan menyumbangkan seluruh pendapatan bersihnya sebesar $1 juta dari tur Loop Ed Sheeran kepada enam organisasi yang mendukung rakyat Palestina.
- Ia menantang Robert Kraft, pemilik New England Patriots dan Gillette Stadium, untuk menyamai donasi tersebut, setelah Kraft diduga melarang penampilan Macklemore di stadionnya.
- Aksi filantropi ini memicu diskusi tentang batas antara kebebasan berekspresi seniman dan tekanan komersial di industri hiburan global.
Rapper Macklemore has announced that he will donate all his net earnings of $1 million (around Rp15 billion) from Ed Sheeran's Loop tour to six organizations working to support the Palestinian people. The decision came after he was removed from the tour over his statement voicing "Free Palestine" on stage at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, earlier in September.
Macklemore's statement while opening the concert immediately sparked controversy. He said one of his reasons for joining the tour was to convey a message of solidarity for Palestine in major U.S. stadiums. However, fierce reactions came from various parties, including fellow musicians such as Pink and Boy George. Tour management then decided to remove him from the tour.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday (Sept. 16), Macklemore stressed that he did not want to get caught up in personal polemics. He emphasized that attention must remain on the Palestinian people, who he said are still victims of violence and military occupation. "I will donate all $1 million of my net earnings from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour to six organizations working directly to support the Palestinian people," he wrote.
In the same post, Macklemore also highlighted the number of child casualties in Gaza. He claimed more than 20,000 children have been killed, and stressed that he did not want to lose focus on their suffering. "I am not a victim. Ed Sheeran is not a victim. Pink is not a victim. We have careers, money, and security. The real victims are the Palestinian people," he said.
He also openly challenged Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, to match his donation. Kraft had reportedly told Ed Sheeran that Macklemore was not allowed to perform at his stadium. "I invite Robert Kraft to match my donation. Whatever our differences, perhaps we can agree that Palestinian lives deserve protection," Macklemore said.
"I am not a victim. Ed Sheeran is not a victim. Pink is not a victim. We have careers, money, and security. The real victims are the Palestinian people." — Macklemore
Although removed from the tour, Macklemore stressed that he does not blame Ed Sheeran. He understood the decision as a consequence of pressure Ed's team may have faced. "Ed Sheeran and his team decided to remove me from the Loop tour. I don't blame him," he wrote.
This case highlights the dynamics between artists' political expression and business interests in the global music industry. In Indonesia, similar phenomena often occur when musicians voice sensitive political views, for example regarding the Papua issue or international conflicts. Although it does not always lead to tour cancellations, pressure from sponsors and organizers often forces artists to hold back.
For music fans in Indonesia, Macklemore's move could set a precedent for how international solidarity can be realized through concrete action, not just statements. However, challenges remain: will such donations drive policy change, or will they only be symbolic gestures that quickly fade from the news?
Going forward, the public will await the response of Robert Kraft and other parties mentioned in Macklemore's statement. If the donation challenge is accepted, the wave of celebrity support for Palestine could grow. Conversely, if ignored, the discussion about the limits of freedom of expression on entertainment stages will continue to unfold.
