Macklemore was removed from the upcoming Neon City Festival in Las Vegas on Tuesday after making controversial comments during a show on Sunday.
The festival announced on Instagram on Tuesday: “Macklemore will no longer be performing due to unforeseen circumstances,” after the 41-year-old musician sang “F*** America” at a benefit festival called Palestine Will Live Forever in his hometown of Seattle.
The Can’t Hold Us singer, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, was announced as a performer for the festival in Vegas on Friday.
On Wednesday, he posted a statement on his Instagram account saying he had made a mistake with his language at the festival and that he did not want his efforts to undermine the message he wanted to convey.
“My thoughts and feelings are not always perfectly or politely expressed,” the three-time Grammy winner said. “Sometimes I slip up and get caught up in the moment … unfortunately, the historic event in my hometown that brought together thousands of people to raise awareness and money for the people of Palestine has been overshadowed by two words.”
Macklemore, 41, was removed from the upcoming Neon City Festival in Las Vegas on Tuesday after making anti-American comments during a show on Sunday. Pictured in Australia in May
The festival announced on Instagram on Tuesday: ‘Macklemore will no longer perform due to unforeseen circumstances’
He said in the post, “I wish I was in a better place with my sadness and anger. But the truth is I’m not okay. I haven’t been.”
Macklemore said he remains “steadfast in his support for a free Palestine” and has suffered professional consequences for that.
“I’ve lost sponsors and business relationships,” Macklemore said. “I’m still here.”
Macklemore has been an outspoken supporter of Palestine in the nearly year since war broke out between Israel and Hamas.
Last May, he released a song titled Hind’s Hall, in which he expressed support for the students who protested on college campuses last spring against US support for Israel in the conflict.
The lyrics to the song go as follows: “The blood is on your hands Biden, we can all see it/And hell no, I won’t vote for you in the fall.”
Proceeds from the recording were donated to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East.
Artists performing at the Neon City Festival include Alison Wonderland, Neon Trees, Russell Dickerson and Seven Lions.
On Wednesday, he posted a lengthy statement on his Instagram account saying he made a mistake by using the wording he used at the festival and that he did not want his efforts to undermine the message he wanted to convey.
Macklemore said he remains “steadfast in my support for a Free Palestine” and has suffered professional consequences for this. Pictured in Paris in May
Feedback on Macklemore’s removal from the free music festival sparked some social media users who were critical of the decision
Feedback on Macklemore’s removal from the free music festival was met with displeasure from some social media users, who were critical of the decision, pointing out the political issues involved and calling it a disregard for the musician’s freedom of expression.
One user said: ‘What a rash decision to silence one of the bravest voices in this country speaking out about the atrocities our government is committing overseas against countless innocent civilians. Shame on you.’
Another user said: ‘Great way to show the international community that you are pro-genocide,’ while another said: ‘What happened to freedom of speech? Maybe let his fans decide if they want to see him anymore? Weak.’
One user said: ‘So you guys don’t like freedom of speech? He’s one of the few rappers actually speaking out about America’s involvement in the Palestinian genocide.’
Another added: ‘Ew, you guys really dropped Macklemore? Good luck finding someone to replace him and the thousands of people who were going to see him.’
Several prominent figures from Washington’s Jewish community told the Seattle NBA affiliate KING 5 that they were disappointed with Macklemore’s actions and asked local sports teams to stop playing his music during games.
Randy Kessler, regional director of Stand With Us Northwest, told the station, “There are a lot of people who are just disgusted by it.”
“What we’d like to see, honestly, is for the Mariners to stop using his song as a seventh-inning stretch song. Go back to Louie, Louie, that was very popular, that everyone would enjoy.”
Several prominent figures in Washington’s Jewish community told Seattle’s NBA affiliate, KING 5, that they were disappointed with Macklemore’s actions and pleaded with local sports teams to stop playing his music during games.
Kessler added: “I think Macklemore needs to realize how much damage his words are doing to the Jewish community when he’s trying to help the Palestinians.”
Ari Hoffman, president of the Seattle synagogue, BCHM, said that “a lot of people on my social media are saying, ‘I removed him from my playlist. Gone, done.'”
The Seattle Kraken (NHL hockey) and Sounders FC (MLS soccer) teams, of which Macklemore is a minority owner, issued a joint statement saying: “We are aware of Macklemore’s increasingly divisive comments, and they do not reflect the values of our respective ownership groups, leagues or organizations.
“We are currently evaluating our joint options in this matter.”