The British band Gorillaz seemingly protested the decision to remove rapper Macklemore from Ed Sheeran’s tour due to his ‘Free Palestine’ remarks, by making a similar statement during a recent performance. Last Thursday in Florida, Damon Albarn, the Gorillaz frontman, displayed a Palestinian flag, draping it over his shoulder while speaking to the audience.

Albarn stated, “Don’t forget this. Ever. Stand your position. Don’t ever be neutral.” This display follows the decision by Robert Kraft and Gillette Stadium to remove Macklemore from Sheeran’s tour.

It’s not the first time Gorillaz have shown support for Palestine. They performed at the Together for Palestine concert in 2025 for Palestinian organizations. Additionally, at the 2024 Glastonbury Festival, Albarn questioned the audience about their support for Palestine, querying their stance on what he termed an ‘unfair war.’

The incident with Macklemore, removed from Sheeran’s tour, sparked a wave of support from progressive figures. Despite criticism, Sheeran’s representatives stated he was uninvolved in the decision. Macklemore addressed the issue, reaffirming his activism and maintaining his support for the ‘Free Palestine’ movement in a heartfelt Instagram post, where he performed the anti-Israel song “Hind’s Hall.”

“I’m not sure how to start this,” Macklemore wrote. “But I want to say something that should be apparent. I am not a victim, and neither is Ed Sheeran.” He emphasized the privileges they possess, such as careers, safety, and worldwide audiences.

Meanwhile, Sheeran addressed the situation during a Saturday night concert. “I’ve tried in my career to not be a political commentator,” Sheeran said, explaining his attempt to focus on unity through music, not division. However, he described the October 7 incident at a music festival in Israel as horrific and recognized the humanitarian issues in Gaza.

While Sheeran expressed his struggle between non-commentary and the need to acknowledge humanitarian concerns, the back-and-forth highlights the ongoing debate in the music industry regarding political and humanitarian issues.