By Lisa Richwine
LOS ANGELES, Nov 6 (Reuters) — American rapper Macklemore, an outspoken critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, stated on Friday that major U.S. concert venues, including New York’s Madison Square Garden, refused to book his recently concluded “Free Palestine” tour, which completed three European dates.
The Grammy-winning artist behind “Thrift Shop” initiated this tour following his removal as the opening act for Ed Sheeran’s concert series in August. At that time, Macklemore attributed his dismissal to stadium owners objecting to his on-stage advocacy of “Free Palestine.”
According to social media posts by the rapper, nine U.S. venues subsequently declined to book him for available dates through the end of the year. Among these venues were Madison Square Garden and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.
“The shows were not going to be allowed to happen in these venues,” Macklemore wrote. “In over 20 years of touring, I’ve never experienced anything like this.”
In response, a spokesperson for MSG Entertainment, which operates Madison Square Garden and other major venues, stated that its properties are “among the busiest venues in the world with extremely limited availability,” adding that Macklemore is “not an arena-level act.”
Representatives for the Kia Forum did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Macklemore performed his “Free Palestine” shows in Dublin, Paris, and London to raise funds for organizations supporting the Palestinian people. He announced plans to collaborate with other artists and organizers for future benefit concerts dedicated to the cause.
“We live in a country that prides itself on freedom of speech,” he wrote. “Yet we’ve reached a point where a handful of billionaires can decide which causes are acceptable, which voices are welcome, and which human lives are worth defending.”
Palestinian authorities report that more than 74,000 people have been killed in the Israeli assault on Gaza, which began after Hamas-led fighters killed approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Israeli officials maintain that the military action is justified as self-defense.
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
