Seattle rapper Macklemore said Friday that nine major U.S. arenas, including Madison Square Garden and Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, refused to book his “Free Palestine” benefit tour after he was removed from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour over his pro-Palestine stage comments, CBC News reported. The rapper, an outspoken critic of Israel’s war in Gaza, said the tour had just concluded three dates in Europe, The Globe and Mail reported.
The “Thrift Shop” performer detailed the rejections in a lengthy Instagram post, naming Madison Square Garden, Prudential Center in Newark, Barclays Center in Brooklyn, UBS Arena in Elmont, Intuit Dome and Kia Forum in Inglewood, Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Chase Center in San Francisco, and Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Macklemore wrote that by mid-September he had available dates at those arenas through the end of the year, but once the venues learned the shows were for his Free Palestine tour, “those dates were suddenly off the table,” The Guardian reported. He added: “The shows were not going to be allowed to happen in these venues.”
MSG Cites Scheduling and Act Size
MSG Entertainment, which operates Madison Square Garden, told CBC News: “We have some of the busiest venues in the world with extremely limited availability and he’s not an arena level act.” Representatives for the other eight arenas did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to CBC News and The Globe and Mail.
Removal From Ed Sheeran Tour Sparked the Benefit
The Free Palestine tour launched after Macklemore was removed as an opening act for the U.S. leg of Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour in August, The Globe and Mail reported. Venues had objected to Macklemore saying “Free Palestine” on stage, with some accusing him of antisemitism and hate speech. Sheeran’s other supporting acts and his live band quit the tour in solidarity with Macklemore, The Guardian reported.
Macklemore played three European dates in Dublin, Paris, and London in October, with all proceeds going to organizations supporting Palestinians, Just Jared reported. The rapper wrote that it was always his intention to bring the tour to the United States.
Macklemore Vows to Build His Own Stages
In his Instagram post, Macklemore wrote: “In over twenty years of touring, I’ve never experienced anything like this.” He added that he would continue organizing benefits for Palestine even if he has to play outside, writing: “We will build our own stages. They may own the arenas. But they do not own the people who fill them. And they never will.”
He also wrote: “I’d rather lose every opportunity in this industry than spend another day protecting people who value their business relationships with Israel more than they value Palestinian human life,” The Guardian reported. “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.” He concluded: “We’ll keep working with other artists and organizers, continuing where we left off in Europe.”
Venues Reject Macklemore’s Political Content
Why was Macklemore removed as an opening act for Ed Sheeran’s tour? Venues objected to Macklemore making pro-Palestine speeches on stage during September concerts in New Jersey, leading to his removal as an opening act for Ed Sheeran’s tour.
Madison Square Garden, Prudential Center, Barclays Center, UBS Arena, Intuit Dome, Kia Forum, Crypto.com Arena, Chase Center, and Climate Pledge Arena, Macklemore said in his Instagram post.
An MSG Entertainment spokesperson told CBC News that its venues are among “the busiest in the world with extremely limited availability” and that Macklemore is “not an arena level act.”
The tour played three dates in Dublin, Paris, and London in October, raising funds for organizations supporting Palestinians, Just Jared reported.
Macklemore ended his post by promising more performances for the cause, writing that he will work with other artists and organizers to continue the benefit shows, potentially at outdoor venues.