Actor Mark Ruffalo made a surprise video appearance during Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” concert in Dublin, days after the rapper was removed as an opening act on Ed Sheeran’s tour following his accusation that Israel is committing genocide.
Ruffalo’s message played on a screen during a mid-show stage reset, alongside pre-recorded messages from other celebrities. “Keep fighting for a free Palestine and humanity all over the world and amongst the people. There will be no peace until there’s equality,” Ruffalo said. “Lots of love, have a good show. Keep fighting the good fight.”
The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas and Broad City actress Ilana Glazer also appeared in video messages shown at the Dublin concert.
Macklemore’s remarks weeks earlier on Ed Sheeran’s tour had sparked controversy after he told the crowd: “To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, is in no way a criticism of you.” He was subsequently dropped from the tour lineup.
Addressing the controversy from the stage in Dublin, Macklemore said: “Six weeks ago, it was two words. Two words is all that it took. Two words that are rooted in love and liberation. Not against anybody, not divisive. Not a call for hatred. But a call to recognize our shared humanity. Free Palestine. I said, free Palestine! The same thing that I want for all of us, freedom, dignity, the right to exist without fear. Being able to raise our children in the homes that we grew up in, not having to prove our humanity to the rest of the world.”
He continued: “And yet, those two words are so threatening to some people. They would rather silence those two words than confront what they actually mean. Because freedom that requires another person’s oppression is not freedom at all. And while the world debates those words, we see the videos, we see the footage, we see parents pulling their children out of the rubble.”
The “Free Palestine” tour is scheduled to continue this week with stops in London and Paris.
