Grammy-winning rapper Macklemore claimed Friday that Intuit Dome, Kia Forum and Crypto.com Arena were among nine major U.S. arenas that declined to host dates for his proposed “Free Palestine” benefit tour.
In an Instagram post Friday, Macklemore said he had hoped to bring the tour, which has raised money for humanitarian aid through shows in Dublin, Paris and London, to the United States.
“From the beginning, our plan was to bring this tour home to the U.S.,” he wrote. “But after weeks of reaching out, nine major American arenas have turned us down.”
Macklemore named Madison Square Garden, Prudential Center, Barclays Center and UBS Arena in the New York area, along with Intuit Dome, Kia Forum, Crypto.com Arena, Chase Center in San Francisco and Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
He said the arenas had offered available dates through the end of the year by mid-September, but the opportunities disappeared once they learned the events would be benefit shows for Palestine.
Macklemore said the conversations with the venues differed, but each resulted in the shows not being allowed at the arenas.
“In over 20 years of touring, I’ve never experienced anything like this,” he wrote.
He said he had not previously spoken publicly about what he described as intimidation, manipulation and suppression because he did not want to draw attention from the war in Gaza. He also criticized what he described as powerful entertainment-industry figures placing business relationships with Israel over Palestinian lives.
“Trying to silence us will only make the message louder,” Macklemore wrote in the post’s caption.
Representatives for Intuit Dome, Kia Forum and Crypto.com Arena did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Macklemore announced the proposed tour in September after he was removed from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour. He had made “Free Palestine” comments during performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Messina Touring Group, the promoter of Sheeran’s U.S. tour, said venue owners had informed it they would not allow Macklemore to perform, which would have jeopardized the remaining shows.
Sheeran later said Macklemore’s removal was the promoter’s decision, not his own.
Macklemore said he donated the $1 million he earned from his contract with Sheeran to Palestinian aid.