Macklemore claims nine major US arenas refused to host his 'Free Palestine' tour

Macklemore is claiming that nine major venues across the United States turned him down for his "Free Palestine" tour. The American musician made the claim in a lengthy statement uploaded to Instagram on Friday.

Madison Square Garden, Prudential Center, Barclays Center, UBS Arena, Intuit Dome, Kia Forum, Crypto.com Arena, Chase Center and Climate Pledge Arena were all among the venues that said no, according to Macklemore, whose legal name is Ben Haggerty. He emphasised that their decision came "once they found out these were my benefit shows for Palestine."

Macklemore wrote, "In over twenty years of touring, I've never experienced anything like this."

He went on to explain that activists, poets, entertainers and artists who stood in solidarity with Palestine have been experiencing this treatment for "decades."

The "Thrift Shop" singer said the only real regret he has from the past three years "is not speaking publicly when Zionists were kicking me under the table." He said, "But the intimidation, manipulation and suppression I experienced are part of how those in power keep entertainers quiet. It's their main tactic to keep us in line. Shut up and dribble, or you will be punished."

Macklemore wrote, "But at this point, I'm three years past giving two s---s about maintaining any relationships, business or personal, with anyone that isn't riding for a Free Palestine." He explained that he would rather lose "every opportunity" in the entertainment industry than keep his opinions about Palestine to himself.

Addressing the venue owners directly, he wrote, "To these owners, the words Free Palestine represent a threat. Not because they endanger anyone, but because those words challenge the systems of power they have built their fortunes on."

Macklemore encouraged other artists to not keep their opinions silent and referenced his three overseas shows as proof that people want to support Palestinian liberation. He wrote, "Look at what just happened in Europe. Three sold-out arenas. Tens of thousands of people from different backgrounds, religions and walks of life standing together. More than forty artists and speakers putting their names and platforms behind Palestinian liberation. For all the attempts to paint this movement as one rooted in hatred, what filled those rooms was love."

His statement included references to the historic midterm elections and Abdul El-Sayed winning a Senate seat in Michigan. Macklemore wrote, "The tides are turning. Just three nights ago, Abdul El-Sayed won his Senate race on a platform that included ending the genocide in Gaza and stopping U.S. arms sales to Israel. AIPAC spent $42 million trying to defeat him. And they still couldn't win."

He continued, "The trouble with buying power is believing you've bought the people too. The billionaires depend on our silence and complicity. They forget that we buy their tickets. We fill their arenas. We build their empires. And we have the power to bring them down."

Macklemore added, "The people have spoken. We want an end to the genocide and we want a Free Palestine. The arenas have made their decision. Now we'll make ours. 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 his statement by saying he will be hosting more shows in support of Palestine. "We'll probably just take that s--- outside where it belonged in the first place," he wrote.

The controversy began in September. Macklemore faced backlash after making pro-Palestinian remarks during a September 4 Ed Sheeran tour stop at MetLife Stadium, where he was the opening act, leading to his removal from the tour. On September 19, demonstrators protested outside Ed Sheeran's concert in Philadelphia.