Rapper Macklemore says nine major U.S. arenas have refused to book his Free Palestine benefit tour, following his removal from Ed Sheeran’s concert lineup in September. The venues allegedly rejected the dates after learning the events were organized to support humanitarian aid for Palestinians.
The blocked venues include Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, and UBS Arena in the New York area; the Kia Forum, Intuit Dome, and Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles; the Prudential Center in New Jersey; the Chase Center in San Francisco; and Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, according to The Guardian. According to the rapper, his team had secured available dates through the end of the year by mid-September before facility operators withdrew them.
Benjamin Haggerty, known professionally as Macklemore, explained that over more than twenty years of touring he has never experienced such resistance. The 43-year-old artist used a lengthy public statement published on Instagram on Friday to detail the difficulties he faced in bringing the benefit concert series to the United States. He expressed that after weeks of outreach, the doors were closed by administrators at nine facilities once they discovered the nature of the events. Although the conversations with each facility varied, the ultimate outcome remained identical across all locations.
[Macklemore says that nine US arenas turned down his Free Palestine tour] “Rapper called out ‘intimidation, manipulation and suppression’ in a social media post, claiming major arenas refused to host him after the Ed Sheeran controversy“https://t.co/yvrfXS3i2N
— https://x.com/norionakatsuji/status/2118864562804183383
The refusal by Climate Pledge Arena holds particular significance in the Pacific Northwest, given the artist’s deep civic, cultural, and commercial ties to Seattle. Operating out of Seattle Center under the management of Oak View Group, the arena serves as home ice for the WNBA’s Seattle Storm and the NHL’s Seattle Kraken. Haggerty notably joined the minority ownership groups of both the Kraken and the Storm in 2022.
Tour Rejections Follow Ed Sheeran Ouster
The scheduling disputes stem from fallout over Macklemore’s removal from Loop Tour in September. The rapper had made onstage remarks supporting Palestine while opening for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium. Stadium owners, including Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft, subsequently pressured promoters to drop him from the bill over concerns regarding his statements.
MSG responds to Macklemore's claim that the arena turned down his "Free Palestine" tour: "We have some of the busiest venues in the world with extremely limited availability and he's not an arena level act." 🔗: https://t.co/SwLw8BEb3h pic.twitter.com/fABHynZlZN
— https://x.com/PopCrave/status/2118814905629618353
Following his dismissal, Macklemore launched a three-date European leg of the Free Palestine tour in Dublin, Paris, and London, featuring guest performers such as Hozier, Aurora, Paloma Faith, Kneecap, and Portugal. The Manchester and European shows sold out, with all proceeds directed to organizations providing medical and humanitarian relief in Gaza, including Medical Aid for Palestinians, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, UNRWA USA, Anera, and Jewish Voice for Peace.
During the European run, the concerts featured several celebrity guest performances and appearances from figures such as Mark Ruffalo, Susan Sarandon, and Julian Casablancas, alongside bands like Beoga. The Dublin, London, and Paris performances were described as a triumph, bringing together tens of thousands of people from different backgrounds, religions, and walks of life in sold-out arenas.
Macklemore shares the U. S. venues that declined to host his Free Palestine Tour: • Madison Square Garden • Prudential Center • Barclays Center • UBS Arena • Intuit Dome • Kia Forum • https://t.co/Q8eBMHf4jf Arena • Chase Center • Climate Pledge Arena pic.twitter.com/ksQHbuD6o2
— https://x.com/PopCrave/status/2118812545079185478
Venues Respond to Booking Allegations
In a statement regarding the allegations from Madison Square Garden, a representative for MSG Entertainment said that the company operates some of the busiest venues in the world with extremely limited availability and added that Macklemore is not an arena-level act, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Representatives for the other eight arenas did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Macklemore criticized the venue rejections in a multi-slide Instagram statement, writing The intimidation, manipulation and suppression I experienced are part of how those in power keep entertainers quiet. It’s their main tactic to keep us in line. Shut up and dribble, or you will be punished.
But this is not an isolated incident. For decades, activists, poets, writers, musicians and entertainers who have stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people have faced consequences for doing so. Many have paid a far greater price than I have.
Macklemore, Rapper
Future Plans Outside Traditional Arenas
Despite the resistance from indoor arena operators, Macklemore indicated that he intends to pursue alternative venues for stateside performances. In his statement, he suggested taking that shit outside where it belonged in the first place and building custom stages to continue the benefit concerts.
Reflecting on the broader political climate, the rapper also mentioned recent political developments, including Abdul El-Sayed securing a victory in a Michigan Senate race on a platform that included ending the conflict in Gaza and halting arms sales to Israel, despite substantial campaign spending by outside groups.
MSG tells TMZ they didn’t book Macklemore because he isn’t an “arena level act”, despite him immediately selling out his Free Palestine arena tour: “We have some of the busiest venues in the world with extremely limited availability and he's not an arena level act.” pic.twitter.com/HKKVcYgyvS
— https://x.com/PopBase/status/2118829852367216799
Earlier coverage: Macklemore Says Nine US Arenas Rejected Free Palestine Tour