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 said on Instagram on Tuesday: “Macklemore will no longer be performing due to unforeseen circumstances,” after the 41-year-old music artist led a chant of “F*** America” at a benefit festival titled Palestine Will Live Forever in his native Seattle.
The Can’t Hold Us frontman, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, had been announced as a performer for the Las Vegas festival on Friday.
On Wednesday, she posted a statement on her Instagram account saying she made a mistake in using the language she used at the festival and that she did not mean to undermine the message she was trying to send with her efforts.
“I don’t always express my thoughts and feelings perfectly or politely,” the three-time Grammy winner said. “Sometimes I make mistakes and get carried away by the moment… Unfortunately, the historic event in my hometown that brought together thousands of people to raise awareness and funds for the people of Palestine has been overshadowed by two words.”
Macklemore, 41, was banned from the upcoming Neon City festival in Las Vegas on Tuesday after making anti-American comments during a show on Sunday. Pictured in May in Australia
The festival said on Instagram on Tuesday: ‘Macklemore will no longer be performing due to unforeseen circumstances.’
In the message, she said: “I wish I was in a better place with my pain and anger. But the truth is, I’m not okay. I haven’t been.”
Macklemore said he remains “steadfast in my support for a free Palestine” and has suffered professional consequences as a result.
“I’ve lost sponsorships, I’ve lost business ties,” Macklemore said. “I’m still here.”
Macklemore has been a staunch defender of Palestine in the nearly year since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out.
Last May, she released a song titled Hind’s Hall in support of students who protested on college campuses last spring against US support for Israel in the conflict.
The song’s lyrics included: ‘The blood is on your hands, Biden, we can see it all/And fuck no, I ain’t voting for you in the fall.’
Proceeds from the recording were donated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
Artists scheduled to perform at Neon City Festival include Alison Wonderland, Neon Trees, Russell Dickerson and Seven Lions.
On Wednesday, she posted a lengthy statement on her Instagram account in which she said she made a mistake in using the language she used at the festival and that she did not mean to undermine the message she was trying to send with her efforts.
Macklemore said he remains “strongly supportive of a free Palestine” and has suffered professional consequences as a result. Pictured in Paris in May
Comments about Macklemore being removed from the free music festival angered several social media users who criticised the decision.
Reactions to Macklemore’s removal from the free music festival angered several social media users, who criticized the decision, citing the political issues involved and what they called a disregard for the music artist’s freedom of expression.
One user said: “What a rash decision to silence one of the bravest voices we have in this country, speaking out against the atrocities our government is allowing abroad against countless innocent civilians. Shame on us!”
Another user said: “It’s a great way to show the international community that you’re in favor of genocide,” while another said: “What happened to freedom of speech? Maybe let his fans decide if they still want to watch it? Weak.”
One user said: “So you guys don’t like freedom of speech? He’s one of the few rappers who actually speaks out about America’s involvement in the genocide of Palestinians.”
Another added: “What? Did they really drop Macklemore? Good luck finding someone to replace him and the thousands of people who were going to see him.”
Several prominent figures in Washington’s Jewish community told Seattle’s NBA affiliate KING 5 who were disappointed with Macklemore’s actions and implored local sports teams to stop playing his music during games.
Stand With Us Northwest Regional Director Randy Kessler told the station: “There are a lot of people who are just upset.
“What we’d like to see, frankly, is for the Mariners to stop using their song as the seventh-inning stretch song. Go back to Louie, Louie, which was very popular and everyone would enjoy.”
Several prominent figures in Washington’s Jewish community told NBA affiliate KING 5 in Seattle that they were disappointed with Macklemore’s actions and implored local sports teams to stop playing his music during games.
Kessler added: “What I really think Macklemore should understand is the damage his words do to the Jewish community while trying to help the Palestinians.”
Ari Hoffman, president of BCHM synagogue in Seattle, said, “A lot of people on my social media are saying, ‘I deleted it from my playlist. It’s gone, it’s over.'”
The Seattle Kraken (NHL hockey) and Sounders FC (MLS soccer) teams, of which Macklemore is a minority owner, released 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 collective options on this matter.”