Macklemore says US venues rejected his Free Palestine tour

LOS ANGELES: American rapper Macklemore, an outspoken critic of Israel’s war on Gaza, said this week that major US concert venues including New York’s Madison Square Garden refused to book his Free Palestine tour that just concluded three dates in Europe.

The “Thrift Shop” performer launched the effort after he was removed as the opening act on musician Ed Sheeran’s concert tour in August. Macklemore said at the time that stadium owners had objected to him saying “Free Palestine” on stage.

Since then, nine US venues declined to allow him to book available dates through the end of the year, Macklemore said on social media. The venues included Madison Square Garden and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.