Macklemore has said nine major American arenas refused to host his Free Palestine benefit shows, a rejection he describes as unlike anything he has faced in more than two decades of touring.
The rapper, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, created the concerts himself after being dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour over his vocal solidarity with Palestine. He has performed in Dublin, Paris, and London alongside other artists, with proceeds going to organisations 'supporting Palestine and the Palestinian movement'.
Nine arenas 'turned us down'
In a lengthy Instagram statement, the 43-year-old said the plan had been to expand the Free Palestine tour across the US. 'But after weeks of reaching out,' he wrote, 'nine major American arenas have turned us down.'
He named Madison Square Garden, Prudential Center, Barclays Centre, UBS Arena, Intuit Dome, Kia Forum, Crypto.com Arena, Chase Center, and Climate Pledge Arena.
'By mid-September, we received available dates at these arenas through the end of the year. But once they found out these were my benefit shows for Palestine, those dates were suddenly off the table,' Macklemore said. 'The doors were closed. The conversations were all different, but the result was the same. The shows were not going to be allowed to happen in these venues.'
'Not an isolated incident'
He said this was 'not an isolated incident', claiming that for decades various artists, poets, and musicians have 'faced consequences' for being openly pro-Palestine. 'Many have paid a greater price than I have.'
Macklemore added that his 'only real regret' now is not speaking publicly sooner. 'At the time, I didn't believe that centring what was happening to me was worth taking any attention away from the genocide in Palestine.'
He said he would 'rather lose every opportunity' in showbiz than 'spend another day protecting people who value their business relationships with Israel more than they value Palestinian human life'. He claimed the words 'Free Palestine' represent 'a threat' to venue owners because the phrase 'challenges the systems of power they have built their fortunes on'.
European shows and ongoing solidarity
Macklemore praised the sold-out concerts in Europe, which featured over 40 other artists, for platforming 'Palestinian liberation'. 'There will be more shows for Palestine,' he insisted. 'We'll keep working with other artists and organisers, continuing where we left off in Europe.'
He concluded: 'They may own the arenas, but they do not own the people who fill them. And they never will.'
The rapper's message follows his earlier criticism of 50 peers who urged the Home Secretary to ban him from Britain. Speaking at Wembley Arena, he told the crowd: 'This is the story tonight of love. Regardless of what them 50 Lords have to say, this is a story of equality for all human beings around this earth.'
The London concert included Paloma Faith and activist Greta Thunberg, while Hozier and Kneecap joined him in Dublin. In September, Macklemore was removed from his opening slot on Ed Sheeran's tour by the promoter after expressing a pro-Palestine stance.
Macklemore donated $1million (£750,000) to Palestinian organisations and challenged Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft to match him. Kraft, who owns the New England Patriots, responded that he had already been asked to match Ed Sheeran's own $2m donation 'to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis'.
