Macklemore says US venues rejected his Free Palestine tour

American rapper Macklemore said on Friday that nine major US venues, including Madison Square Garden, refused to book his Free Palestine tour. MSG Entertainment responded that Macklemore is 'not an arena-level act.' Macklemore played three European dates to raise funds for Palestinian organizations.

American rapper Macklemore said on Friday that nine major US concert venues, including New York's Madison Square Garden and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, refused to book his Free Palestine tour. Macklemore launched the tour after being removed as the opening act on Ed Sheeran's tour in August, claiming stadium owners objected to him saying 'Free Palestine' on stage. He played shows in Dublin, Paris, and London to raise funds for organizations supporting Palestinians. A spokesperson for MSG Entertainment said Macklemore is 'not an arena-level act' and that its venues have limited availability. Macklemore criticized the situation as billionaires deciding which causes are acceptable. The article notes over 74,000 Gazans have been killed in the war since October 7, 2023.