Macklemore with a Palestinian flag
Macklemore trauma claim by holocaust charity sparks outrage
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- A Holocaust charity claimed survivors called them traumatized by Macklemore’s statements at Ed Sheeran’s concert.
A statement from The Blue Card, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance to Holocaust survivors, has set off a wave of online criticism.
The group said Saturday that it was "saddened" to have received calls from survivors who were traumatized by what Macklemore had done at the Ed Sheeran concert.
It said it was “appreciative” that Ed Sheeran dropped the rapper from his US. tour, but that Macklemore still "owes" survivors an apology.
The statement follows a week of turmoil around Sheeran's Loop Tour. Macklemore made forceful pro-Palestinian remarks from the stage during his opening set at MetLife Stadium, and Sheeran said in an Instagram statement that the decision to remove Macklemore was the promoter's, not his.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose stadium was set to host two of the concerts, said he had told Sheeran's team that Macklemore would not be allowed to perform there.
On Saturday, Sheeran opened his Philadelphia show with an apology, saying he was "making mistakes" in handling the fallout.
The Blue Card's statement drew immediate skepticism on social media. One commenter wrote: "we're supposed to believe 90+ year old holocaust survivors were calling in droves because they were traumatized by clips they saw at an ed sheeran concert? that's the narrative we're going with here?"
Another questioned the account directly: "Multiple calls from people who know Macklemore who are all at least 90 years old?"
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Others said the statement shifted attention away from Gaza. "This is not about the Palestinian people," one commenter wrote, mocking the framing. "Of course it's not about the people who are being murdered en masse right now. It's all about you you you you you you. Stop weaponising trauma to silence people."
The Blue Card has not publicly responded to the criticism.
