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Comedian Bill Maher spent the first night of Rosh Hashanah taking aim at Macklemore and other anti-Israel celebrities, arguing that calling the war in Gaza a genocide is fueling a global rise in antisemitism.
During Friday night’s episode of HBO’s “Real Time,” Maher first criticized members of the Democratic Party who have spoken out against Israel during the Israel-Hamas war.
“Because nowhere has this moral confusion become more obvious than in a place called Gaza,” Maher said. “A little strip of land that was not part of the original Israel. But they won in a war launched against them, but then gave back, gave back as a peace gesture — did they tell you that part on TikTok, kids?”
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Comedian and television host Bill Maher arrives for the 27th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor gala at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on June 28, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images)
Maher then turned his attention to Macklemore — whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty — after the musician repeatedly made calls to “Free Palestine” while performing his anti-Israel song “Hind’s Hall” as an opening act for Ed Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey earlier this month.
“I think Macklemore spoke for all clueless celebrities when he said, ‘I know enough to know this is a genocide,’” Maher continued. “Actually, you don’t know s—. It’s not. It’s not a genocide. It’s a counter-attack in a war.”
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Macklemore performs at St Anne’s Park on June 4, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland. (Kieran Frost/Redferns via Getty Images)
The “Thrift Shop” rapper made headlines in early September for his comments about the Israel-Hamas war while on stage at the concert, where he wore a keffiyeh as he delivered his message to the crowd.
“A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine,” Macklemore said.
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Macklemore performs before an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Seattle. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images) (Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
“I said, ‘Free Palestine!’ I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them,” he continued.
Fox News Digital reached out to Macklemore’s representatives for comment.
Maher continued criticizing Macklemore and other liberal figures, disputing their assertion that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
“Gaza equals genocide is a lie, an easily provable lie,” Maher said. “And the fact that so many prominent Democrats go along with it is, to me, the party’s worst moment since they undid Reconstruction after the Civil War. Democrats are policing their candidates really hard on this issue. Say it — say it’s a genocide. Say it.”
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Maher concluded his “New Rule” segment by arguing that what he described as false claims about the war have contributed to the rise of antisemitism.
“If you’re one of the many people these days asking, ‘This explosion of antisemitism around the world that we see, where is it coming from?’” Maher said. “This. This is where it’s coming from. Because if you really think someone is committing genocide, of course you have full permission to hate them. And history shows, for whatever reason, when it comes to hating the Jews, people don’t need a lot of permission.”
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Macklemore’s comments also drew criticism from Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public Relations, who told Fox News Digital that the rapper’s public stance on Israel represents a “calculated risk.”
“Take a political stance and most celebrities can count on alienating half their audience,” Mudd said. “That’s the easy math. The harder split is what’s left: about a third thinks you should stay in your lane and entertain, and only a third is glad you used your platform to say it.”
“It’s fine, if you’re making a calculated risk,” he continued. “Using your platform to influence politics is a decision that can affect your fans’ support, your reputation, your career, and your future earnings, so know the risk before you make it.”
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Mudd concluded his comments by suggesting that Macklemore should take into account the potential consequences of taking such a polarizing stance as a public figure.
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“If Macklemore were my client, I’d advise him that calling a war a genocide invites the public shredding Bill Maher just delivered,” Mudd told Fox News Digital. “There’s no rule against entertainers taking a stance, but he needs to understand the career, reputational, and pushback risk that comes with it.”