Pink has responded to the criticism she received after sharing a message that questioned Macklemore’s remarks during his opening act for Ed Sheeran in New Jersey. The rapper had finished his remarks by shouting “Free Palestine” and saying that he wanted his words to reach Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Pink shared a post from StopAntisemitism accusing Macklemore of using “anti-Israel propaganda” and urging him to apologize. The post sparked a wave of backlash against the singer, who has since explained her stance in a lengthy message on social media, according to Rolling Stone.
“A repost is not a statement,” Pink wrote, acknowledging that she shared the message without agreeing with all of its words. She also clarified that she was not questioning Macklemore’s right to say “Free Palestine.” What alarmed her, she explains, was the context of his performance: the rapper delivered the speech in front of a stadium full of families while violent images of the war were shown on the screens. “You can’t decide for us,” Pink wrote, referring to the Jews present at the concert.
Pink also notes that her relationship with Macklemore has changed over the years. She mentions that she was a fan during the “Same Love” era (2014), but criticizes the disguise the rapper wore months later and which was interpreted as an antisemitic caricature, for which he subsequently apologized.
Pink, who identifies as Jewish, insists that she does not speak on behalf of Israel or of any government. “Hamas is a terrorist organization,” she wrote, while stating that Palestinians deserve “a future that respects their humanity and their aspirations” and that protecting civilian lives should be a priority.
