Macklemore Claims U.S. Arenas Blocked His ‘Free Palestine’ Tour
Rapper Macklemore alleges U.S. venues like Madison Square Garden refused to host his ‘Free Palestine’ tour.
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Rapper Macklemore has accused major U.S. arenas, including Madison Square Garden, of blocking his ‘Free Palestine’ tour, claiming that venues have refused to host his benefit shows for the cause. The ‘Thrift Shop’ artist, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, stated that he has never faced such resistance in over two decades of touring.
Anti-Israel Comments Spark Controversy
Macklemore faced backlash in September 2023 after making anti-Israel comments during a performance with Ed Sheeran, which led to his removal from the tour by Sheeran’s promoters. The rapper then announced his own ‘Free Palestine’ tour, expressing his belief that a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation has shifted the landscape for artists and activists.
U.S. Venues Refuse to Host
Macklemore revealed that after reaching out to nine major American arenas, they all turned him down, citing his benefit shows for Palestine. He listed venues such as Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, and Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, as well as the Chase Center in San Francisco and Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. He noted that once the venues learned the nature of the tour, the dates were suddenly unavailable.
Freedom of Speech Concerns
The rapper criticized the influence of the billionaire class in deciding which causes are acceptable and which voices are welcome on stage. He argued that the U.S., which prides itself on freedom of speech, has reached a point where a handful of billionaires can dictate which human lives are worth defending. He emphasized that he would rather lose every opportunity in the industry than protect those who prioritize business relationships with Israel over Palestinian human life.
Backlash and Criticism
Macklemore faced significant backlash after his pro-Hamas comments during a performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. He accused Israel of ‘genocide’ in Gaza and wore a Palestinian Keffiyeh while the Jumbotron displayed ‘Free Palestine’ imagery. Pop star Pink also criticized him, expressing her fear as a Jewish mother and questioning whether his comments were justified.
Source: Breitbart
