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from https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/tv-shows/bill-maher-calls-out-macklemore-antisemitic-costume-controversy-after-ed-sheeran-drama/

Bill Maher Revives MacklemorerCOs Antisemitic Costume Controversy Amid Ed Sheeran Fallout
rCLEveryone is just really so stupid,rCY the comedian says

Alyssa Ray
September 18, 2026 @ 8:04 PM

Bill Maher, Macklemore
(Photo credit: Getty Images)

Bill Maher took aim at Macklemore after the rapper was dropped from Ed SheeranrCOs tour over pro-Palestinian remarks, reminding viewers of his controversial past.

Specifically, during his monologue for FridayrCOs rCLReal Time,rCY Maher appeared to make reference to the 2014 concert where Macklemore wore a rCLJewish caricaturerCY costume, which perpetuated antisemitic tropes.

rCLEveryonerCOs paying more. Macklemore had to pay an arm and a leg for a giant fake prosthetic rCyJewrCO nose,rCY Maher said, seemingly referencing the onstage ensemble where Macklemore wore a dark wig, beard and a fake
nose. rCLAre you not following that story? rCa I see people, rCyWhat is he talking about? Is that insulting? Is he right?rCOrCY

rCLApparently, [Ed Sheeran] is old buddies with Macklemore from 15 years
ago, back when Macklemore had his one hit,rCY he continued, recapping the controversy. rCLSo, Ed Sheeran let Macklemore be his opening act on his
tour. And when I say, rCyact,rCO he goes out there and repeats lies about
how Gaza is a genocide.rCY

Macklemore
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Maher then went on a brief tangent, where he stated that he disproved
rCLit last week with facts and figures.rCY He added: rCLNot that they care, but thatrCOs a lie.rCY

rCLOk, so 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, rCyYou canrCOt play my stadium,rCOrCY
Maher said. rCLSo, now MacklemorerCOs fans hate Ed Sheeran. Ed SheeranrCOs own band wonrCOt play with him. And Ed Sheeran needs a new opening act. So,
today, Britney Spears said, rCyHold on a minute, I can juggle a few things.rCOrCY

The rCLReal TimerCY editors then cut to a video of Spears dancing with
knives in a social media video. As Maher went on, he declared that he
didnrCOt care if AI rCLkills us allrCY after hearing a story rCLlike this.rCY

rCLEveryone is just really so stupid,rCY he said. rCLListen to this, AOC was asked yesterday would she change the channel on the radio if Ed Sheeran
came on. And she said, rCyYes. Yes, I would.rCO You know, AOC? Way ahead of you. IrCOve always changed the channel when [Ed Sheeran comes on].rCY

Ed Sheeran (Credit: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. (Credit: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty
Images)
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AOC Says the Real Problem in Ed Sheeran-Macklemore Fallout Is Stadium
Owners' Censorship: rCyNot Just About One ArtistrCO
A representative for Macklemore did not immediately respond to TheWraprCOs request for comment.

Maher is the latest celebrity to weigh in on the Macklemore-Sheeran
fallout. While many have rallied around the rCLThrift ShoprCY performer and blasted Sheeran for falling to external pressure, others have criticized MacklemorerCOs comments and, in turn, resurfaced this past antisemitic costume.

rCLI respect all cultures and all people,rCY the Grammy winner wrote on his website in 2014. rCLI would never intentionally put down anybody for the fabric that makes them who they are. I love human beings, love
originality andrCa happen to love a weird outfit from time to time.rCY

At the time, he defended that he chose the get-up so that he could move
freely throughout the secret show in Seattle, WA, adding, rCLI acknowledge
how the costume could, within a context of stereotyping, be ascribed to
a Jewish caricature.rCY

rCLI am here to say that it was absolutely not my intention and
unfortunately at the time I did not foresee the costume to be viewed in
such regard,rCY he further wrote. rCLIrCOm saddened that this story, or any of my choices, would lead to any form of negativity.rCY

As for the recent controversy, Macklemore has stood by his rCLFree PalestinerCY comments and even called on Robert Kraft to match his $1
million donation to pro-Palestine organizations. Kraft responded by
sharing he had already donated $2 million to aid GazarCOs rCLhumanitarian crisis,rCY but clarified he was matching SheeranrCOs pledge.

Hannah Einbinder (Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Ed Sheeran (Credit: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for iHeartRadio) and Colin Kaepernick
(Credit: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for The Gordon Parks Foundation )
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and More Slam Macklemore Firing
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Alyssa Ray
Alyssa Ray is the night news editor at TheWrap and boasts a passion f
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