Rapper Macklemore, whose legal name is Ben Haggerty, claims that nine major U.S. venues, including Madison Square Garden and the Kia Forum, have refused to host his "Free Palestine" tour. Macklemore stated in a lengthy Instagram post that these venues denied his benefit shows for Palestine once they learned of the cause.
"In over twenty years of touring, I’ve never experienced anything like this," Macklemore wrote, characterizing the rejections as part of a broader pattern of intimidation and suppression faced by artists who express solidarity with Palestine. He asserted that entertainers are often told to "shut up and dribble, or you will be punished."
Macklemore expressed a shift in his priorities, stating he would "rather lose every opportunity" in the entertainment industry than remain silent on the issue. He directly addressed venue owners, suggesting that the phrase "Free Palestine" represents a threat to their established power structures.
He contrasted the U.S. rejections with recent overseas shows, citing three sold-out European arenas filled with tens of thousands of attendees supporting Palestinian liberation. Macklemore interpreted these events as a sign that "the tides are turning" and highlighted the electoral success of Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan on a platform that included ending U.S. arms sales to Israel.
"The billionaires depend on our silence and complicity," Macklemore stated. "They forget that we buy their tickets. We fill their arenas. We build their empires. And we have the power to bring them down."
The rapper, who previously faced backlash and was removed as an opening act for Ed Sheeran in September following pro-Palestinian remarks, indicated that he plans to continue organizing events in support of Palestine, potentially in outdoor venues. "If they think the threat of never playing another arena in America will make me retreat into silence, they got me f---ed up," he concluded.