Fox News Latest Headlines
Federal judge rules Bill Essayli unlawfully serving as de facto US attorney in California
A federal judge has disqualified Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in Southern California, from overseeing two criminal cases after finding that he is unlawfully serving as a "de facto" U.S. attorney.
U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright ruled Tuesday that Essayli cannot participate in or supervise the prosecutions in the two criminal cases.
However, the disqualification will not take effect immediately, giving the Justice Department time to seek a stay pending appeal.
"We respectfully disagree with the court's order," Essayli said in a statement provided to Fox News.
APPEALS COURT RULES TRUMP ADMIN UNLAWFULLY APPOINTED NEVADA'S TOP FEDERAL PROSECUTOR
"The President and the Attorney General have every right to select supervisors within the Justice Department," Essayli continued, adding that "ultimately, this question will be decided by the Supreme Court, and I look forward to serving in my current role until then."
Essayli originally served as interim U.S. attorney under an appointment that expired after 120 days. Then-Attorney General Pam Bondi subsequently appointed him as a special attorney and designated him first assistant U.S. attorney. He was never formally nominated by the president or confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Seabright previously found that the arrangement did not lawfully make Essayli acting U.S. attorney but allowed him to continue supervising prosecutions under his other titles.
BLANCHE SURVIVES REPUBLICAN DEFECTORS AS TRUMP GETS HIS NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL
However, after the Ninth Circuit ruled over the summer against a similar arrangement involving a federal prosecutor in Nevada, Seabright decided to revisit the issue, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a revised designation last month to narrow Essayli's authority and distinguish his situation from the Nevada case, but Seabright ruled the modified arrangement still gave Essayli enough authority to effectively occupy the vacant U.S. attorney position.
"In sum, Essayli is unlawfully serving as a 'de facto' United States Attorney," Seabright wrote.
The ruling came as Essayli has been helping lead a high-profile Justice Department effort challenging California over more than 20,000 registered voters the administration says are likely noncitizens.
NINTH CIRCUIT QUESTIONS TRUMP DOJ'S EMERGENCY REQUEST TO SET ASIDE 20,000 CALIFORNIA MAIL BALLOTS
The Justice Department has asked a federal court to require ballots associated with those individuals to be separated while their eligibility is reviewed, and U.S. District Judge David O. Carter said he would issue a ruling Wednesday on the administration's request.
"I think this case is really on the forefront of the administration's battle to fight for election integrity," Essayli said during a news conference Tuesday.
"We wanna stop illegal voting. We don't wanna chase it later," he added.
When asked about Seabright's ruling during the news conference, Essayli gave reporters a brief response.
"That case will be decided by the Supreme Court."
Rays stay alive in World Series, walk off Brewers in thrilling extra-inning Game 4
The Tampa Bay Rays live to play another day, coming through with a two-run 13th inning to walk off the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the World Series 4-3.
The Brewers, smelling its first World Series title in franchise history after 22-year-old Cooper Pratt broke an innings-long 2-2 tie with a solo home run in the top of the 13th inning, were just three outs away from celebrating.
But after an error allowed Junior Caminero to reach base to start the frame, the Rays finally smelled some life. Liam Hicks made even more believers in Tropicana Field when his single moved Caminero to third base, and Jonny DeLuca told the Brewers, "Not so fast!"
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE
DeLuca’s RBI single to center field scored the tying run, and the rally was on. Chandler Simpson, who had an RBI double to begin the scoring in this game, made it bases loaded with no outs.
Then, Ben Williamson, the last player on the Rays’ bench after they exhausted all options to keep the season alive, delivered a pinch-hit single to cap a thrilling Game 4 with Tampa Bay’s first win in this series, and a necessary one to force Game 5 on Wednesday night.
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
It truly looked as if the hero for the Brewers would be Pratt, who had a 4-for-5 night including an RBI double earlier in the game, when he finally broke a 2-2 tie with his solo blast to left field.
The last time the Brewers were in the Fall Classic was 1982, where they fell to the St. Louis Cardinals. It took 44 years to get back, and the Brewers, who owned the best record in the regular season at 103-59, were hoping to end their magical season with another sweep after doing the same in shocking fashion to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
The only postseason game Milwaukee lost before this one was Game 3 of the ALDS against the San Diego Padres.
Heading into Game 4, it felt almost imperative the Rays score first after what transpired on Monday night in Game 3, where the Brewers scored eight runs with two outs in the fifth inning. It was a brutal loss to take at home, but weirder things have happened in sports when teams are down 3-0 in a series.
Simpson came through against Brewers starter Dustin May, doubling down the right field line to score DeLuca for the 1-0 lead.
But Pratt remained confident at the plate for Milwaukee, hitting his own double for, yes, another two-out clutch hit to tie the game.
The Rays, though, hit back with DeLuca simply putting the ball in play, and Brewers third baseman David Hamilton throwing it away in the bottom of the fourth to allow Caminero to cross the plate for the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth.
However, Hamilton made up for it the next frame in a big way, leading off the top of the fifth inning with a solo home run to right center field off Griffin Jax, whose solid start ended on a bad note.
From there, both bullpens were put to the test, as each pitcher got through their batters and frames without letting a run through, forcing extra innings.
But Shane Drohan, who hadn't pitched in a month due to injury issues and a poor outing his last time out, was no match for the hungry Rays desperate to keep their season alive following Pratt's potential game-winner.
The series stays alive and we get another thriller lined up in Game 5 between these pennant winners.
US military kills five in eastern Pacific strike on suspected drug-trafficking vessel
The U.S. military on Tuesday carried out a lethal strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific that it said was involved in drug trafficking, killing five people it identified as "narco-terrorists," according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
"On October 27, under the direction of SOUTHCOM, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere executed a lethal, kinetic strike on a go-fast vessel operating along established narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific," SOUTHCOM said in a statement.
"Confirmed intelligence revealed the vessel's active involvement in narco-trafficking," the statement continued.
SOUTHCOM said five people it described as narco-terrorists were killed during the operation.
US FORCES OBLITERATE SUSPECTED 'NARCO-TERRORIST' VESSEL IN LETHAL EASTERN PACIFIC STRIKE, KILLING 3
Tuesday's strike was the latest in the Trump administration's monthslong campaign targeting suspected cartel vessels, which has now resulted in at least 240 deaths from more than 70 strikes, according to The Associated Press.
Video of Tuesday's operation released by SOUTHCOM shows a vessel in the water before it erupts into a massive fireball.
SOUTHCOM did not specify where the strike occurred beyond identifying the eastern Pacific and saying the vessel was operating along established drug-trafficking routes.
Throughout its campaign targeting suspected drug-trafficking networks, the military has released videos and statements describing those aboard the targeted vessels as "narco-terrorists" or alleging links to designated terrorist organizations. However, it has generally not identified those killed or provided evidence that the vessels were carrying narcotics.
The strikes have generated scrutiny from lawmakers, legal experts and human rights groups who have questioned the legal basis for using lethal military force against suspected traffickers outside a traditional battlefield.
SOUTHCOM's continued operations in Latin America and the Caribbean come after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that the U.S. was increasingly seeking to conduct counter-narcotics operations in cooperation with regional allies and in accordance with their laws.
Rubio told reporters that while the U.S. has "the capacity to act unilaterally," it would rather work with its allies because that is "the most effective way to do it."
THE UNLIKELY SOUTH AMERICAN ALLY HELPING LEAD TRUMP'S DRUG CARTEL CRACKDOWN
Rubio also said the U.S. military would "still blow up ships if need be" and that decisions would be made on "a strike-by-strike or operation-by-operation" basis.
In recent months, SOUTHCOM has also released several videos showing military personnel intercepting and boarding vessels it said were involved in narco-trafficking before removing their crews and sinking the boats.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Florida girlfriend allegedly tracks cheating boyfriend, shoots woman in his car: reports
An enraged Florida woman was arrested and charged with murder over the weekend after allegedly tracking down her boyfriend during a late-night meetup with another woman and opening fire on a vehicle.
Katherine Dale Kelly, 24, of Cocoa, told investigators she was trying to "make a point" after believing her boyfriend, Elijah Baker, was cheating on her again, according to a police report obtained by the Space Coast Daily.
She was charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, firing a gun into a vehicle and using a firearm while committing a felony, according to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office.
The confrontation happened in the early hours of Saturday in Port St. John, according to the outlet.
Baker reportedly drove Kelly’s Volkswagen to pick up the victim, Angel Adenau, at approximately 1:20 a.m.
Kelly then tracked Baker’s location and took an Uber to the area.
She then approached the passenger side of the vehicle and fired one round through the window, striking Adenau in the left shoulder, Space Coast Daily reported.
Following the shooting, Baker rushed Adenau to her residence, where emergency assistance was requested. Adenau was subsequently transported to a local hospital for treatment.
During the investigation, Kelly claimed that she had acted in self-defense, according to reports.
However, text messages recovered from Baker’s cellphone showed Kelly accusing him of infidelity and allegedly threatening to shoot someone before the confrontation erupted Saturday morning, the outlet reported.
Her next court hearing is scheduled for Nov. 24, according to the sheriff’s office.
Halima Salman convicted of receiving ISIS military training in Syria, faces 10 years in prison
A federal jury on Tuesday convicted Halima Salman of knowingly receiving military-style training from ISIS while living in Syria, bringing an emotional end to a closely watched terrorism trial.
The case was believed to mark the first time a woman accused of joining ISIS stood trial in a U.S. federal court.
Salman, also known as "Umm Khattab al-Muhajir," is a 27-year-old U.S. citizen and former Brooklyn resident who faces up to 10 years in prison. She is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 2.
According to federal prosecutors, Salman's parents traveled with her and her eight siblings out of the United States in 2016, ultimately taking the family to ISIS-controlled territory in Syria.
The Justice Department said she was 18 years old when she married an ISIS fighter and voluntarily sought military-style training from the terrorist organization.
Prosecutors said Salman pledged loyalty to ISIS and willingly participated in its activities.
She received authorization from ISIS to carry an assault rifle and was given a document certifying that she had completed the training. That document was later recovered from her husband's cellphone, officials said.
FIRST USE OF ALIEN TERRORIST REMOVAL COURT SENDS AFGHAN WOMAN BACK AFTER ELECTION DAY ISIS PLOT: DOJ
During the trial, jurors were shown video of Salman holding an assault rifle, a photo of her with an ISIS flag and supportive text messages she sent to her husband.
"With today’s verdict, Salman is held accountable for joining forces with a terrorist organization," U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York said in a statement.
"ISIS ravaged Syria and caused havoc across the globe; our Office will continue to prosecute those who supported its murderous reign," Nocella continued.
Following the reading of the verdict at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Salman broke down crying and was consoled by members of her defense team.
Her mother, who arrived after word came that the jury had reached a verdict, also broke down and was seen crying on her knees in the gallery. Multiple members of Salman's defense team were also visibly emotional, including her lead attorney, Mia Eisner-Grynberg.
SHE WAS MARRIED TO AN AL QAEDA MEMBER. NOW ONE WOMAN IS FIGHTING THE TERRORISM SHE SAW UP CLOSE
Tuesday's verdict came after jurors previously indicated that they were struggling to reach a unanimous verdict and were sent back twice to continue deliberations.
Salman's defense team portrayed her as a teenager who was drawn into Syria's civil war through her father and later her husband.
Salman, who was born in Brooklyn, testified that she believed the family was traveling to visit relatives in Turkey when her father instead took them across the border into Syria.
"I do blame my father for a lot of things that happened," she testified.
She also said she didn't want to be "married off" at age 18 and had tried to get a divorce.
"You try to leave, it is death," Salman testified.
Salman testified that she eventually fled with other refugees and separated from her husband.
She was detained in Baghouz, Syria, in 2019 by forces fighting ISIS and was arrested by U.S. authorities after returning to New York in 2024.
Salman's attorneys have asked the judge to set aside the verdict and acquit her, arguing that the evidence presented at trial was legally insufficient to sustain the conviction, according to The Associated Press.
Fox News' Brendan McDonald and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Deion Sanders says alleged $50,000 offer to silence critics was 'a joke' amid Colorado's struggles
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders is addressing comments made by one of his longtime associates.
Christopher Neely, a YouTube content creator who goes by "Uncle Neely," recently suggested that Coach Prime was willing to pay up to $50,000 to silence his vocal critics. "That was a joke," Sanders told reporters Tuesday.
"For the most part, the people that attack him wouldn't be making the money they were making if he wasn't here to attack," Neely said in a video from an online roundtable program. "Which is why he told some of them, 'Hey man, let's just do this. I give you $50,000 to not mention my name for a year.' And ain't nobody took the deal yet."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE
Sanders appeared to need more context when reporters asked him about what was described as an offer of hush money for detractors of the Colorado program. Neely, who was in the room for Sanders' weekly news conference, quickly filled him in on the comments.
DANTE MOORE WON'T QUIT ON OREGON, BUT CONCUSSION WILL KEEP STAR QB OUT OF GAMES MOVING FORWARD FOR DUCKS
"Oh no, no, no! I think you misinterpreted that," Sanders said. "I said, like some of y'all in here sitting right now, 'I would love to give you money and not mention my name, and I want to see how far that goes.' ... That's what we were saying. Some people live on your name."
Sanders said criticism was nothing new to him, having faced it during his NFL playing days before it carried over into his coaching career.
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
"I would never offer a man money. I don't give a darn what you say about me," Sanders said. "That was really a joke about someone prospering off of your name and your brand. It's not in my heart to not like anybody in this room. I may not like some things you may do or say, but I don't know you enough to form that opinion.
"This is normalcy because I'm just different. I'm unapologetic about things I say and how I live my life."
Sanders is in his fourth season at Colorado, having taken over after a successful run at Jackson State. The Pro Football Hall of Famer quickly raised Colorado’s profile, winning nine games and leading the Buffaloes to a bowl appearance in his second season.
Colorado finished the 2025 season with a 3-9 record. The team got off to a 2-0 start this season but has dropped its last five games. The Buffaloes face Kansas State on Saturday.
Kylian Mbappé's embarrassing, groveling apology to China comes down to money: Dan Dakich
It hasn't been the best few months for Kylian Mbappé.
The French superstar striker entered the 2026 World Cup with his team as clear favorites to win the tournament, only to come up well short, losing 2-0 to Spain in the semifinals. Then, on Monday night, he lost the Ballon d'Or, the award given out to the best player in international soccer, to Harry Kane.
Though Mbappé was brilliant in the "El Classico" against Barcelona, scoring a brace in the rivalry match, through the first 10 matches of the La Liga season, Real Madrid's goal differential of +15 pales in comparison to Barca's +29. He also refused to fully wear a shirt worn by the rest of his teammates, to reaffirm Cueta's status as a part of Spain after an unprecedented surge of illegal immigration from Morocco.
But on Tuesday, his season somehow got even worse.
Mbappé bent the knee to China and the Chinese Communist Party, after an appearance on "The Bridge," a French talk show hosted by a teammate, Aurelien Tchouameni. His big offense? Laughing at a meme.
The one "that makes me laugh the most," he said, is "the one where there's a video of a guy, I think it's a Chinese dictator, they put my [face over it]. The show then cut to an example of the meme, his face covering an image of what looks to be Mao Zedong.
Mao was, by any reasonable definition, a dictator. And a brutal, malicious, and violent one. Most historians blame Mao's policies for tens of millions of deaths through famine and politically motivated persecution. It's not a stretch to describe him as evil, and one of history's greatest villains.
But in the modern world of professional sports, there are a few protected groups that must be protected at all costs, and the Chinese Communist Party is one of them. Why? Because there's money to be made for La Liga and Real Madrid in China, and telling the truth about the CCP's abuses is apparently forbidden.
"My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world," Mbappé wrote in a humiliating statement on Tuesday. "I apologize to everyone my words have upset. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry."
If that wasn't enough, the entire Spanish soccer league added their own groveling, ridiculous apology.
"La Liga deeply regrets the offense caused by Kylian Mbappé’s recent comments among Chinese fans. These comments were made in a personal capacity and do not represent LALIGA. To the extent of our institutional responsibility, we apologize on behalf of LALIGA and all its clubs," the league said.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE
He's just the latest in a long list of athletes and personalities whose concern for human rights and social justice ends at the Chinese border. And OutKick's Dan Dakich took him to task for how he handled it.
"I don't think people fully understand soccer is, and how big soccer players like Mbappé are, all across the world. Mbappé, if you remember, one of the stars of the World Cup when he came to the USA," Dakich said.
"Mbappé has all kinds of commercials, all kinds of billboards, all kinds of business interests all over China, including anything from cheese to soft drinks ... you name it, he's got a huge, huge presence in China. Well, that's all being threatened to go away, because as you know based on what happened with Daryl Morey and others, China doesn't take kindly to any kind of slur."
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
Sure enough, the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, of course, immediately criticized Mbappé's remarks.
"If you're going to get in bed with Communist China, if you're going to get in bed with somebody that isn't as open and free thinking as we are and Europeans are, then you better shut your damn mouth. You know, you better just sit back, take your money, and quit screwing around."
The freedoms that many athletes take for granted here are not present everywhere. And Dakich brought up that there's no awareness of how lucky they are to play where they do.
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTER
"You can be political here in the United States because we enjoy freedoms that others don't," he said. "But when you come at China, they react. This is going to cost Mbappé a ton of money. A ton. I mean, this is going to be something that he cannot recover from now. Does he care? Don't know. Should he care, don't know? I don't even a little bit.
"But I got to tell you, they always back down. Hell, you think LeBron James would practice his golf swing if he was in China listening to the Chinese anthem? Hell no. No, they're always back because it's big money."
That's the reality, that Mbappé and James and all the rest of them will do anything to avoid taking a hit to their wallet, no matter how embarrassing and humiliating it is. They're the first to speak out on social issues when it's free, and the first to back down when it matters.
Valkyries stars tells fans to ‘call in sick’ for Game 6 as early WNBA Finals tipoff sparks fan reaction
Game 6 of the WNBA Finals between the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries has been moved up to 12:30 p.m. ET on Thursday to give State Farm Arena enough time to get the building ready for an NBA game that evening.
The early tipoff could create a challenge for fans in California, where the game will begin at 9:30 a.m. PT. The Valkyries defeated the Dream in Monday’s Game 5 in San Francisco to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, meaning Game 6 could determine the WNBA champion.
While championship series games, especially potential championship-clinching contests, are routinely played in prime time, Thursday’s less-than-ideal scheduling doesn’t appear likely to stop Valkyries fans from tuning in to watch their favorite team.
WNBA FINALS GAME 6, A POTENTIAL TITLE-CLINCHER, WILL BE HELD IN THE AFTERNOON ON THURSDAY
Warriors coach Steve Kerr is among those who plan to tune in, even if he’s having breakfast when the game is starting. "We’ll have a day off that day, so, yeah, I’ll be watching," he said.
Several of the WNBA Finals games have drawn record ratings, showing how much interest there is in the league, this series and its athletes. The Valkyries have sold out every game since they began as an expansion franchise last year.
Shaunice Christmas-Miller and her wife, Kendall, have attended every home playoff game this season at Chase Center. Their jobs allow them to be flexible and work from home Thursday. Nevertheless, the couple believes the fan base will still show up Thursday.
"Absolutely, they will definitely find a way," Shaunice said.
Valkyries co-owner Peter Guber was largely unconcerned that the franchise’s devoted home crowd would come together when it matters most, despite morning challenges such as commuter traffic heading into San Francisco for a watch party.
Supporters have been invited to gather outside Chase Center’s Thrive City viewing area beneath the big screen.
Shaunice added that she wishes everybody involved had considered the various options well in advance to avoid such last-minute scrambling.
"They should have thought ahead for the whole seven-game series," Shaunice noted. "The women deserve primetime slots."
Others expressed their feelings on social media.
Rapper Flavor Flav posted Tuesday: "Thursday is a paid holiday. Because Flavor Flav said so." Included in his post was a photo of a note directed to bosses everywhere as a permission slip of sorts requesting excused absences for employees, signed by Flavor Flav with dual titles beneath his name — "The World’s Greatest Hype Man" and "Official Supporter of Women’s Sports."
Ole Miss women’s coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin sounded off.
"I’d rather play anywhere else than have a 12:30 tip for a WNBA FINALS game man! Not a good look! For fans and for the players," she posted on X. "Just my 2cents that no one asked for."
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
Golden State coach Natalie Nakase and her players have focused all along on what they can control, and this certainly isn’t one of those things.
But there were some clever postgame offerings:
"Call in sick, I recommend it," point guard Veronica Burton cracked.
"Yeah, right? Y’all know how to fake a cough, didn’t we all do that?" teammate Kiah Stokes added.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE
Golden State guard Kaila Charles has no doubt the Valkyries will adjust for the early tipoff.
"I think it’s a good thing that we’re able to play in a bigger arena so that they can have more people come and support women’s basketball," Charles said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Taylor Swift’s hitmaker scolds Ed Sheeran, ‘stand the f--- up’ after Macklemore fallout
Grammy-winning producer Jack Antonoff said Ed Sheeran missed a "massive" opportunity to "stand the f--- up" to billionaire interests, criticizing the English singer for removing Macklemore from his tour over the rapper’s remarks on Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Antonoff, lead singer for the band Bleachers and producer behind some of Taylor Swift’s biggest hits, made the scathing rebuke in a recent interview with The Guardian, more than a month after Sheeran faced backlash over Macklemore’s removal from the Loop Tour following the rapper’s calls for "Free Palestine" during his opening act.
"If you think it is [controversial] you’re lost in some other sauce that is so crazy. They’re going to let some f---ing promoter tell me what I can say? Don’t book me. I’ll play for free outside," Antonoff told the outlet.
COLIN KAEPERNICK ACCUSES NFL OF 'COLLUDING' AGAINST MACKLEMORE AMID 'FREE PALESTINE' CONTROVERSY
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was among a group of NFL team owners who reportedly threatened to bar Sheeran’s stadium performances if Macklemore was included in the lineup.
Antonoff argued that Sheeran should have canceled the tour and staged free concerts outside the venues rather than give in to pressure from billionaires.
"[Ed Sheeran] missed a massive, beautiful opportunity there: just cancel the whole f---ing tour, then play for free outside each venue, raise a bunch of money, rather than let a f---ing billionaire tell you what to do," Antonoff said. "The reason it’s not an anomaly or niche issue is because we all live in a world where billionaires are constantly telling us what to do. So stand the f--- up."
KATHY GRIFFIN SAYS ED SHEERAN SHOULD HAVE TOLD ROBERT KRAFT TO 'GO F--- YOURSELF' OVER MACKLEMORE
Sheeran addressed the controversy during his Philadelphia tour stop, saying in part: "What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate."
Several other artists scheduled to open for Sheeran, including Finneas, Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham, dropped out of the tour in solidarity with Macklemore, who has doubled down on his message with a "Free Palestine Tour."
Antonoff, who has also voiced support for a "free Palestine," praised Macklemore for speaking out. The Jewish artist said he has "felt way more emboldened to say it now."
"It’s not in any way a strange, uncomfortable or controversial thing to say, it’s a deeply human thing to say," said the producer.
ED SHEERAN APOLOGIZES FOR MACKLEMORE BACKLASH, ENCOURAGES UNITY AT FIRST CONCERT SINCE FALLOUT
Film critic and Hollywood in Toto founder and editor Christian Toto told Fox News Digital that Antonoff does not care about free speech, arguing that his comments are an attempt to gain approval within his industry.
"Jack doesn't sound well-informed, either about Middle East politics or his own business," Toto said in a statement. "If Sheeran scrapped his tour, how many workers would lose their jobs? And, if he did an alternative tour, how would they get paid?"
"He knows it's acceptable within his industry to blanketly bash billionaires, a lazy, thoughtless attack and do a variation of ‘Free Palestine,'" Toto continued. "He's trying to curry favor within his industry. Sadly, it might just work."
Fox News Digital has reached out to Sheeran and Macklemore for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Macklemore called 'out of touch' over speech at Free Palestine Tour kickoff
Macklemore took his political message to a new stage.
The rapper doubled down on his pro-Palestinian activism during the launch of his Free Palestine Tour, weeks after his controversial remarks prompted his removal from Ed Sheeran's lineup.
"I am proud to stand here on stage in solidarity with the Palestinian people. We will continue to fight for collective liberation until our last breath," Macklemore told the crowd during his concert in Dublin, according to Reuters.
"Six weeks ago, two words is all that it took," he said, referring to the fallout after he declared "Free Palestine" while opening for Ed Sheeran.
PINK HITS BACK AMID BACKLASH FOR CRITICIZING MACKLEMORE'S PRO-PALESTINIAN CONCERT REMARKS
"Those two words are so threatening to some people that we'd rather silence those two words than confront what they actually mean. ... Somehow those words have become more controversial than the suffering that made them necessary," Macklemore added.
Macklemore's defiant remarks drew mixed reactions online, with some social media users applauding his outspoken activism while others questioned his motives and accused him of being out of touch. Critics also took aim at the rapper's priorities, suggesting he should focus his attention on problems closer to home rather than delivering political speeches onstage.
One user called Macklemore "so performative and bored."
"Imagine going to this and getting lectured by a person who is literally out of touch," one user wrote on X in response to a video shared.
GET ENTERTAINMENT SCOOP DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE
"Macklemore should care as much about Americans on Skid Row," another user said. "He could go down there or on any street in LA at this point, give some of his personal fortune away & save people."
"It's one way to stay relevant I guess," another user wrote.
Others praised Macklemore, calling the rapper "stunning and brave."
"Thank goodness for the humanity and courage of artists like this," one user said. "Free Palestine."
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
The rapper launched his Free Palestine Tour Monday after being removed as an opening act for Ed Sheeran.
Macklemore, who's full name is Ben Haggerty, was kicked off Sheeran's Loop Tour following criticism from his "Free Palestine" messaging during his opening act at MetLife Stadium in early September.
Sheeran later addressed Macklemore’s removal from his U.S. tour, saying the rapper’s departure was ultimately a decision made by the concert promoter and venues, not by Sheeran.
PUT YOUR ENTERTAINMENT KNOWLEDGE TO THE TEST AND SEE HOW YOU SCORE
The "Shape of You" singer said he was "appalled" by the conflict between Israel and Palestine and described the suffering on both sides as "a human tragedy," according to a lengthy statement shared on Instagram after Macklemore accused Sheeran and tour organizers of sidelining him over his pro-Palestinian remarks.
Macklemore claimed that Sheeran told him Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, had rallied other stadium owners to oppose allowing the rapper to perform.
Macklemore's Free Palestine Tour will continue in Paris and London. U.S. dates and locations are expected to be announced at a later date.
Fox News Digital's Tracy Wright contributed to this report.