Macklemore to donate $1m Sheeran tour earnings to Gaza aid

US rapper Macklemore has announced that he will donate his entire $1 million in net earnings from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour to six organisations supporting Palestinians, days after he was dropped from the tour following his pro-Palestinian remarks on stage. Macklemore made the announcement in a lengthy social media post on Wednesday.

The rapper specified that the funds would go to six organisations working directly to support Palestinians: the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, Heal Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, UNRWA USA National Committee and Anera. He also challenged billionaire Robert Kraft to match the donation. The announcement followed Macklemore's removal from the remaining US dates of Sheeran's Loop Tour after he called for a "Free Palestine" and delivered a political speech during performances at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium earlier this month.

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Sheeran maintained that the decision had been made by the promoter and venues rather than by him personally, whereas Macklemore accused Kraft of pressuring other stadium owners to prevent him from performing; Kraft's representative initially declined to comment on the donation challenge. Meanwhile, the dispute has precipitated further developments involving the tour, with supporting acts Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Beoga subsequently withdrawing in solidarity with Macklemore.