Macklemore Identifies Nine US Arenas That Rejected Free Palestine Benefit Shows

Rapper and songwriter Macklemore, whose stage name belongs to Ben Haggerty, announced on November 6 that nine major American arenas have declined to host his upcoming benefit concerts for Palestine. The 43-year-old musician detailed the rejections in a lengthy statement posted to his Instagram account. He listed Madison Square Garden, the Prudential Center, Barclays Centre, UBS Arena, Intuit Dome, Kia Forum, Crypto.com Arena, Chase Center, and Climate Pledge Arena as the specific venues that turned down the tour.

Haggerty stated that the original plan was to expand the tour across the United States after a successful run in Europe. He explained that his team reached out to these venues weeks in advance. By mid-September, the organizers had secured available dates at all nine locations through the end of the year. However, Haggerty said the situation changed once the venue management learned the specific nature of the events. He noted that the previously agreed-upon dates were suddenly removed from consideration.

The musician described the conversations with the venues as distinct in their details but identical in their outcome. He said the doors were closed to the shows. He remarked that in more than twenty years of touring, he has never experienced a similar sequence of rejections. He characterized the incident as part of a longer pattern where artists and poets face professional consequences for expressing support for Palestine. Haggerty acknowledged that many other artists have paid a greater price for their public stances.

The rejections followed a turbulent period for Haggerty in the music industry. In September, he was removed from the opening slot of Ed Sheeran’s tour. The decision by the tour promoter occurred after Haggerty expressed his vocal solidarity with Palestine. Sheeran’s backing band and supporting acts also left the tour to side with Haggerty. Sheeran admitted to making mistakes during the announcement and stated that he did not know if the tour could continue. He expressed that his heart was broken by the loss of civilian lives in the region.

Haggerty created the current tour structure after being dropped from the Sheeran lineup. He performed recent sold-out concerts in Dublin, Paris, and London. The proceeds from these European shows were donated to organizations supporting Palestine and the Palestinian movement. He described these three gigs as among the most beautiful he has ever been a part of. The lineup in Europe included over 40 other artists, activists, and musicians who joined him to platform Palestinian liberation.

In his statement, Haggerty addressed the dynamics of power within the entertainment industry. He said the phrase Free Palestine represents a threat to venue owners because it challenges the systems of power on which they have built their fortunes. He expressed regret for not speaking publicly about the rejections sooner. He explained that at the time, he felt that centering his own experience might take attention away from the genocide in Palestine. He now views the intimidation and suppression as a tactic used to keep entertainers quiet and in line.

The musician said he is no longer concerned about maintaining business or personal relationships with those who do not support a free Palestine. He stated he would rather lose every opportunity in the industry than protect people who value their relationships with Israel more than Palestinian human life. He acknowledged the fear that other artists feel when considering whether to take a public stand. He said he wrestled with that fear himself but believes it loses power when artists realize they are not standing alone.

Haggerty concluded his statement by asserting that the tides are turning. He said he will continue to work with other artists and organizers to build stages outside the traditional arena system. He insisted that the commitment to raising funds and standing in solidarity with Palestinian people remains unchanged. He ended by noting that those who own the arenas do not own the people who fill them.

The announcement comes after Haggerty addressed a crowd at Wembley Arena in London. He spoke about the 50 peers who had urged the Home Secretary to ban him from Britain. He told the audience that the night was a story of love and equality. He also donated one million dollars to Palestinian organizations and challenged Robert Kraft, the owner of Gillette Stadium, to match the donation. Kraft responded in a statement saying he had already been asked to match Ed Sheeran’s two million dollar donation to aid the region.