Macklemore says US venues rejected his Free Palestine tour

American rapper Macklemore expressed frustration on Friday that major US concert venues in New York and Los Angeles had refused to book his Free Palestine tour, following a successful run of three shows in Europe. Macklemore, known for his vocal opposition to Israel's war in Gaza, launched the charitable tour after being removed as the opening act for Ed Sheeran's concert tour in August.

He claimed that stadium owners objected to his statement of "Free Palestine" during performances. Since then, nine US venues, including Madison Square Garden and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, have declined to allow him to book dates through the end of the year, according to a post on social media. The rapper stated that, in his 20-year career, he had never encountered such an unprecedented situation.

A Madison Square Garden spokesperson noted that their venues are among the busiest in the world with limited availability and that Macklemore is not an arena-level act. The Kia Forum did not respond to requests for comment. Macklemore intends to collaborate with other artists and organizers to continue raising funds for organizations supporting the Palestinian people.

He emphasized that freedom of speech in the United States is under threat, as a few billionaires dictate acceptable causes, welcome voices, and defend human lives. Palestinian authorities report that over 74,000 individuals have been killed in Israel's assault on Gaza, launched after Hamas-led fighters killed approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Israeli officials attribute the action to self-defense.