Macklemore Claims US Venues Canceled Tour Dates Over "Free Palestine" Stance

American rapper Macklemore has stated that nine major US concert venues have refused to host his "Free Palestine" tour, organized to support the Palestinian cause. Among the venues cited are New York's Madison Square Garden and Los Angeles' Kia Forum. Macklemore made these accusations on social media on Friday, November 6. The rapper, known for hits like "Thrift Shop," has publicly opposed Israel's war in Gaza. His tour, intended to fund organizations supporting Palestinians, has recently performed in Dublin, Paris, and London.

Macklemore claims the difficulties began in August when he was removed from opening for Ed Sheeran's concerts. He alleges that stadium owners objected to him saying "Free Palestine" on stage. Since then, nine American venues have reportedly declined to offer him available dates before the end of the year. "In over twenty years of touring, I've never experienced anything like this," Macklemore stated, attributing the refusals to his political positions.

However, Madison Square Garden disputes this interpretation. A spokesperson for MSG Entertainment, which operates several major US venues, stated that their facilities are among the busiest globally with extremely limited availability. The spokesperson also asserted that Macklemore is "not an arena-level artist," challenging the notion that the refusals were politically motivated. The Kia Forum in Los Angeles had not immediately responded to inquiries.

Macklemore decries the situation as an infringement on freedom of expression in the United States. He accuses a few billionaires of controlling which causes can be defended and which artists can perform in the country's major venues. The artist intends to continue his activism by organizing further concerts with musicians and partners who share his views. Currently, there is no independent evidence to confirm that the nine reported refusals are directly linked to his support for the Palestinian cause.