Bill Maher used Friday’s episode of HBO’s “Real Time” to keep pressing his case against rapper Macklemore, days after Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour over remarks he made about Gaza during a New Jersey stadium show.
Macklemore, 43, told the crowd at that New Jersey concert, “A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so that I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very, very dear to my heart: Free Palestine.”
Maher revived a 12-year-old controversy to needle the rapper, referencing a 2014 onstage costume that included a dark wig, beard and fake nose. “Everyone’s paying more. Macklemore had to pay an arm and a leg for a giant fake prosthetic ‘Jew’ nose,” Maher said. Macklemore apologized for the costume at the time, writing on his website, “Family, friends and fans alike who know me well, know that I’m absolutely not the person described in certain headlines today. There is no worse feeling than being misunderstood, especially when people are hurt or offended.”
Maher went on to describe how Sheeran, who has known Macklemore for roughly 15 years, brought him on as an opening act, only for Macklemore to use the platform to “repeat lies about how Gaza is a genocide,” in Maher’s words. “Everyone is just really so stupid,” Maher said, before pointing to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who was asked whether she’d change the radio station if a Sheeran song came on. “She said, ‘Yes. Yes, I would.’ You know, AOC? Way ahead of you. I’ve always changed the channel when [Ed Sheeran comes on],” Maher said.
The Kraft dispute
The show also took aim at the standoff between Macklemore and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Macklemore said on Instagram that Sheeran told him Kraft would not let him perform at Gillette Stadium, which the Kraft Group owns. “Robert Kraft, who is a rich guy owns the Patriots, owns the stadium where this concert was about to take place. He was understandably offended by this and said, ‘You can’t play my stadium,'” Maher said, adding that “now Macklemore’s fans hate Ed Sheeran. Ed Sheeran’s own band won’t play with him. And Ed Sheeran needs a new opening act.”
After being dropped from the tour, Macklemore donated $1 million to Palestinian aid efforts and challenged Kraft to match it. Kraft responded with a $2 million donation to Gaza.
Maher also questioned whether concertgoers want political messaging from performers at all. “Is anyone looking for any of this at a concert? I mean, do I really need a lecture on politics of any stripe right when the molly is kicking in? It’s so arrogant on both their sides,” he said.
Pushback on Maher
Political commentator Kaivan Shroff, a former Hillary Clinton campaign staffer, told Fox News Digital that Maher’s framing doesn’t hold up given his own career of opining publicly on politics.
“Maher’s whole premise falls apart the minute he starts mocking celebrities for having political opinions. Bill Maher is a celebrity with an opinion on virtually everything. He can think Macklemore is wrong, AOC is ridiculous or Ed Sheeran is overrated. But pretending the problem is that entertainers are weighing in on politics is absurd when that has been his own business model for decades,” Shroff said.
Shroff said reviving the costume episode was fair given the subject matter but argued Maher undercut the point. “The Macklemore costume is relevant, especially given the subject matter. But Maher takes that legitimate point and buries it under a bunch of cultural sniping,” he said. He added that jokes about disliking Sheeran’s music or calling Macklemore a “one-hit wonder” don’t engage with the actual dispute over Gaza.
Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public Relations, told Fox News Digital that Sheeran needs to settle on a single public position and stop revisiting it. “Every hour of silence gives someone else the opportunity to control the narrative,” Mudd said. “Strong crisis decisions share three things: They’re fast. They’re clear. They’re final. Sheeran doesn’t need a new decision. He needs one decision he can stand behind.” Mudd added that circling back publicly “is a common mistake” that “is perceived as doubt and invites more discussion and debate.”
Fox News Digital said it reached out to representatives for both Macklemore and Sheeran for comment.
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