Macklemore says US venues rejected his Free Palestine tour
By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES, Nov 6 (Reuters) - American rapper Macklemore, an outspoken critic of Israel's war in Gaza, said on Friday that majorUS concert venues including New York's Madison Square Garden refused to book his Free Palestine tour that just concluded three dates in Europe. The "Thrift Shop" performer launched the effort after he was removed as the opening act on musician Ed…
American rapper Macklemore stated on Friday that nine major U.S. concert venues have refused to book his Free Palestine tour for available dates through the end of the year. The musician, an outspoken critic of Israel’s war in Gaza, named New York's Madison Square Garden and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles among the locations that declined.
According to Middle East Eye, Macklemore shared on social media that he has never experienced anything like this in over 20 years of touring, suggesting that a handful of billionaires are deciding which causes and voices are acceptable.
The Free Palestine tour follows Macklemore's removal as an opening act for Ed Sheeran's concert tour in August. Al-Monitor reports that Macklemore previously stated stadium owners had objected to him saying "Free Palestine" on stage. The rapper recently concluded three tour dates in Dublin, Paris, and London to raise funds for organizations supporting the Palestinian people.
A spokesperson for MSG Entertainment, which operates Madison Square Garden, stated that its properties are among the busiest in the world with extremely limited availability and noted that Macklemore is not an arena-level act. Representatives for the Kia Forum did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Brief written by urgent.news from Al-Monitor, New Straits Times, Middle East Eye, CBC News — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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