Foo Fighters’ Chris Shiflett has defended Macklemore’s unrelenting support for Palestine after the rapper was criticised for calling for a “free Palestine” during a recent opening slot on Ed Sheeran’s North American tour.
After making an impassioned speech calling for “all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality” while onstage in New Jersey last week, the rapper has faced calls for his removal from the tour by the Israeli-American Council, who claimed he had used his platform to “advance a one-sided political agenda”.
Among the critics of his speech were Pink, who recently shared a lengthy explanation defending her posts about Macklemore, and Boy George, who himself drew huge backlash after sharing the AI-assisted pro-Israel track ‘We Will Dance Again’.
Now, guitarist Shiflett has voiced his support for the ‘Thrift Shop’ singer, having replied to a series of posts on X where users debated the etiquette of the airing of his political beliefs while opening for Sheeran.
“Maybe speaking out against genocide trumps etiquette,” Shiflett responded to guitarist Joe Bonamassa, per Consequence, going on to highlight that the MetLife crowd appeared receptive to his message.
When you fill stadiums you can say what you want. When you are the opening act for someone who fills stadiums … STFU! Simple rules and etiquette when operating on tour.. It’s not that hard kids. 🤷♂️ https://t.co/CHFkYQVw3r
— Joe Bonamassa (Official) (@JBONAMASSA) September 9, 2026
no I don’t think I did. I get the “STFU and play” thing all the time and I don’t subscribe to it. https://t.co/hEv0wygrZM
— Chris Shiflett (@ChrisShiflett71) September 9, 2026
my man I’ve taken the stage many many times opening for or headlining over artists who I disagree with wildly across the board and I’ve never left or tried to get someone thrown off a tour for it. https://t.co/I3oihopXLV
— Chris Shiflett (@ChrisShiflett71) September 9, 2026
nope – I don’t know what space you live in, but in my world people are critical of atrocities all over the globe. the Israeli genocide in Gaza is one that our country has a particularly close relationship too, so you should expect criticism. https://t.co/5zVpHXauQI
— Chris Shiflett (@ChrisShiflett71) September 9, 2026
When another user suggested gig-goers might be expecting music rather than politically charged messages, Shiflett wrote: “I get the ‘STFU and play’ thing all the time and I don’t subscribe to it.”
When another user accused musicians of selectively focusing on the violence in Gaza but ignoring atrocities occurring elsewhere, Shiflett pushed back again, saying: “The Israeli genocide in Gaza is one that our country has a particularly close relationship to, so you should expect criticism,” he noted.
Amid the controversy, Macklemore recently responded to critics of the recent onstage pleas, sharing a full video of his speech and pointedly saying that striving for equality “should never be controversial”.
Despite the backlash, he is still listed as support for Sheeran’s upcoming ‘LOOP Tour’ dates, including shows across Philadelphia, Foxborough, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Charlotte, and Arlington.
As for the Foo Fighters, they’re set to continue their ‘Take Cover’ tour in North Dakota, California, Kentucky, Nevada and more throughout this month and October, and recently opened for AC/DC and appeared to tease a potential joint tour.
