Macklemore Calls Out MSG, Kia Forum and Other U.S. Arenas for Allegedly Refusing to Host His Free Palestine Tour

Macklemore says nine major American arenas turned down his Free Palestine Tour after learning that the shows were benefits for Palestine.

In an Instagram statement Friday (Nov. 6), the rapper addressed questions about bringing the charity tour to the United States. Its shows in Dublin, Paris and London have raised money for humanitarian aid.

“From the beginning, our plan was to bring this tour home to the U.S,” he wrote. “But after weeks of reaching out, nine major American arenas have turned us down.”

Macklemore said the venues refused to discuss hosting a Free Palestine show. He named them as “Madison Square Garden. Prudential Center. Barclays Center. UBS Arena. Intuit Dome. Kia Forum. Crypto.com Arena. Chase Center. Climate Pledge Arena.”

Billboard has reached out to all nine arenas for comment.

“By mid-September, we received available dates at these arenas through the end of the year,” Macklemore wrote. “But once they found out these were my benefit shows for Palestine, those dates were suddenly off the table. The doors were closed. The conversations were all different, but the result was the same. The shows were not going to be allowed to happen in these venues.”

“In over twenty years of touring, I’ve never experienced anything like this,” he continued. “Looking back over the last three years, the only real regret I have is not speaking publicly when Zionists were kicking me under the table. At the time, I didn’t believe that centering what was happening to me was worth taking any attention away from the genocide in Palestine. But the intimidation, manipulation and suppression I experienced are part of how those in power keep entertainers quiet.”

He said he would “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.”

“We live in a country that prides itself on freedom of speech,” he added. “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.”

In the post’s caption, he wrote, “Trying to silence us will only make the message louder.”

In September, Macklemore was dropped as an opener on Ed Sheeran’s tour after including “Free Palestine” demonstrations in his supporting sets. Macklemore accused stadium owners, including Robert Kraft, of pressuring Sheeran’s U.S. promoters, Messina Touring Group, to dismiss him from the tour. Kraft’s Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium.

Macklemore donated the $1 million he made from his contract with Sheeran to Palestinian aid before announcing three Free Palestine shows in Europe. Hozier, Kneecap and Aurora were among the guest performers.

See Macklemore’s post below.

Source: Billboard