Boy George Criticizes Paloma Faith Over Support for Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” Message
LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 21: Singer Boy George of Culture Club performs at The Pearl concert theater at Palms Casino Resort on August 21, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo Credit: Ethan Miller
by Chris Tremblay Sep 10
4 MIN READ
Boy George has criticized Paloma Faith after she praised rapper Macklemore’s public support for Palestinians during an opening performance on Ed Sheeran’s United States tour.
In a post on X dated September 7, George questioned the political significance of the slogan “Free Palestine” and directed a personal insult at Faith, describing her as “about as political as a soggy tuna sandwich.”
George also criticized what he called Faith’s “stupid virtuous squealing of delight” over Macklemore’s remarks, while separately accusing Ed Sheeran of having “no spine” for not publicly addressing the controversy.
The comments placed two British pop performers on opposing sides of a wider argument over artists’ political speech at major concerts and the way public figures respond to the war in Gaza.
Macklemore made the comments during performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5, while appearing as an opening act for Sheeran’s Loop tour.
Before performing his protest song “Hind’s Hall,” Macklemore told the audience that one reason he wanted to take part in the tour was to stand on stages across the United States and say the words “Free Palestine.”
The song “Hind’s Hall,” released in 2024, is associated with Macklemore’s criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and his support for Palestinian rights.
Macklemore performed while wearing a keffiyeh, a scarf widely associated with Palestinian identity and solidarity, according to coverage of the performances.
The rapper’s remarks drew criticism from pro-Israel groups, including the Israeli-American Council, which launched a petition calling for him to be removed from the remainder of Sheeran’s tour.
The Israeli-American Council characterized Macklemore’s intervention as a one-sided political message at a mainstream concert.
Macklemore subsequently said his comments were not intended as an attack on Jewish people.
In a video shared on social media, he addressed Jewish audiences directly and said that criticism of Israel, opposition to apartheid and opposition to genocide were not criticisms of Jewish people.
The BBC reported that Macklemore framed his remarks as a call for freedom and equality rather than an expression of hostility toward Jewish people.
The distinction between criticism of the Israeli government and hostility toward Jewish people has been central to the reaction surrounding the performances.
The available reports do not establish whether Sheeran personally endorsed Macklemore’s remarks or whether he had advance knowledge of the content of the opening set.
Faith’s support for Macklemore’s comments was reported as the immediate reason George included her in his post.
The reports reviewed do not reproduce the full wording of Faith’s original response or establish whether she made additional comments about Israel, Gaza, Jewish people or the political debate.
George argued that slogans such as “Free Palestine” can create the appearance of moral courage without requiring substantial political knowledge.
He also said the dispute made him “queasy” and expressed approval of Pink, who had publicly spoken out in the wider controversy.
George’s criticism was directed at Faith’s political response rather than at her musical work or identity.
Neither the reports from PinkNews or Attitude Magazine reviewed for this article document a public response from Faith to George’s latest comments.
George and Faith previously worked together as coaches on the BBC music competition *The Voice UK*.
They joined the program’s coaching panel for its fifth season alongside will.i.am and Ricky Wilson.
The pair attracted attention during the program after Faith pretended to fall asleep while George was speaking to a contestant.
George responded by calling Faith “extremely rude” during the exchange.
Faith later discussed the incident and said she had “blacked out” after what she described as an ill-timed joke, while George said the pair had subsequently gone out to dinner and could cope with each other.
The earlier television dispute is separate from George’s current criticism, which arose from a disagreement about Macklemore’s political speech and Faith’s reaction to it.
The controversy illustrates the continuing dispute over whether musicians should use large entertainment events to make statements about international conflicts.
Macklemore’s supporters have treated his intervention as an expression of solidarity with Palestinians and a call for an end to violence.
His critics have argued that a concert connected to Sheeran’s tour was not an appropriate setting for what they viewed as a partisan political message.
The resulting debate has involved performers, political advocacy groups and concert audiences, rather than being limited to the personal disagreement between George and Faith.
George’s intervention has added a celebrity dispute to that broader argument, with Faith’s reported support for Macklemore becoming the focus of his criticism.
As of September 10, reports reviewed for this article confirm George’s remarks, Macklemore’s concert statements and the petition seeking Macklemore’s removal from the tour, but do not document a response from Sheeran or Faith addressing George’s latest post.
George also criticized what he called Faith’s “stupid virtuous squealing of delight” over Macklemore’s remarks, while separately accusing Ed Sheeran of having “no spine” for not publicly addressing the controversy.
The comments placed two British pop performers on opposing sides of a wider argument over artists’ political speech at major concerts and the way public figures respond to the war in Gaza.
Macklemore’s Concert Remarks
Macklemore made the comments during performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5, while appearing as an opening act for Sheeran’s Loop tour.
Before performing his protest song “Hind’s Hall,” Macklemore told the audience that one reason he wanted to take part in the tour was to stand on stages across the United States and say the words “Free Palestine.”
The song “Hind’s Hall,” released in 2024, is associated with Macklemore’s criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and his support for Palestinian rights.
Macklemore performed while wearing a keffiyeh, a scarf widely associated with Palestinian identity and solidarity, according to coverage of the performances.
The rapper’s remarks drew criticism from pro-Israel groups, including the Israeli-American Council, which launched a petition calling for him to be removed from the remainder of Sheeran’s tour.
The Israeli-American Council characterized Macklemore’s intervention as a one-sided political message at a mainstream concert.
Macklemore’s Response
Macklemore subsequently said his comments were not intended as an attack on Jewish people.
In a video shared on social media, he addressed Jewish audiences directly and said that criticism of Israel, opposition to apartheid and opposition to genocide were not criticisms of Jewish people.
The BBC reported that Macklemore framed his remarks as a call for freedom and equality rather than an expression of hostility toward Jewish people.
The distinction between criticism of the Israeli government and hostility toward Jewish people has been central to the reaction surrounding the performances.
The available reports do not establish whether Sheeran personally endorsed Macklemore’s remarks or whether he had advance knowledge of the content of the opening set.
Faith’s Position and George’s Criticism
Faith’s support for Macklemore’s comments was reported as the immediate reason George included her in his post.
The reports reviewed do not reproduce the full wording of Faith’s original response or establish whether she made additional comments about Israel, Gaza, Jewish people or the political debate.
George argued that slogans such as “Free Palestine” can create the appearance of moral courage without requiring substantial political knowledge.
He also said the dispute made him “queasy” and expressed approval of Pink, who had publicly spoken out in the wider controversy.
George’s criticism was directed at Faith’s political response rather than at her musical work or identity.
Neither the reports from PinkNews or Attitude Magazine reviewed for this article document a public response from Faith to George’s latest comments.
Their Earlier History
George and Faith previously worked together as coaches on the BBC music competition *The Voice UK*.
They joined the program’s coaching panel for its fifth season alongside will.i.am and Ricky Wilson.
The pair attracted attention during the program after Faith pretended to fall asleep while George was speaking to a contestant.
George responded by calling Faith “extremely rude” during the exchange.
Faith later discussed the incident and said she had “blacked out” after what she described as an ill-timed joke, while George said the pair had subsequently gone out to dinner and could cope with each other.
The earlier television dispute is separate from George’s current criticism, which arose from a disagreement about Macklemore’s political speech and Faith’s reaction to it.
A Wider Debate Over Political Speech
The controversy illustrates the continuing dispute over whether musicians should use large entertainment events to make statements about international conflicts.
Macklemore’s supporters have treated his intervention as an expression of solidarity with Palestinians and a call for an end to violence.
His critics have argued that a concert connected to Sheeran’s tour was not an appropriate setting for what they viewed as a partisan political message.
The resulting debate has involved performers, political advocacy groups and concert audiences, rather than being limited to the personal disagreement between George and Faith.
George’s intervention has added a celebrity dispute to that broader argument, with Faith’s reported support for Macklemore becoming the focus of his criticism.
As of September 10, reports reviewed for this article confirm George’s remarks, Macklemore’s concert statements and the petition seeking Macklemore’s removal from the tour, but do not document a response from Sheeran or Faith addressing George’s latest post.
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