Macklemore Claims Nine US Arenas Refused to Host Palestinian Charity Gigs

Rapper Macklemore claims that nine major arenas across the United States have refused to host his Palestinian charity concerts as part of his ongoing tour. In a detailed social media post, the artist stated that venues suddenly canceled available dates once they realized the true nature of the events.

According to Macklemore, the list of rejecting venues includes Madison Square Garden in New York, the Prudential Center in New Jersey, the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and the UBS Arena on Long Island. He also named the Intuit Dome, the Kia Forum, and the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, alongside the Chase Center in San Francisco and the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Previously, the artist performed in Dublin, Paris, and London in late October.

Expressing his frustration, Macklemore wrote that in over twenty years of touring, he has never encountered such resistance. He emphasized that he would rather lose every industry opportunity than defend individuals who prioritize business ties with Israel over Palestinian lives, while criticizing the influence of billionaires on free expression.

In response, a spokesperson for MSG Entertainment told Variety that these locations rank among the busiest venues globally with extremely limited availability, adding that the performer does not match the scale typically required for such arenas. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Macklemore was previously dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour following controversial remarks at MetLife Stadium.