Rapper Macklemore, part of the ownership groups of two Seattle sports teams, is facing backlash following a performance this weekend in which he made comments about the United States’ role in the Israel-Hamas war.
The 41-year-old, who was born in Kent, took the stage Saturday during the Palestine Will Live Forever festival at the Seward Park Amphitheater. Video of him saying “F— America” during the set made the social-media rounds.
“Straight up, say it. I’m not going to stop you,” he told the crowd. “Um, yeah, F— America.”
Macklemore is a minority owner of the Kraken, an addition made public in 2022. He previously joined Seattle Sounders FC’s ownership group in 2019.
The Kraken and Sounders issued a joint statement following the festival appearance.
“We believe that sports bring people together and unite us. We are aware of Macklemore’s increasingly divisive comments, and they do not reflect the values of our respective ownership groups, leagues, or organizations. We are currently evaluating our collective options on this matter.”
Macklemore is a vocal supporter of protests calling for an end to the Israel-Hamas war, and a critic of Israeli military activity in Gaza. He released “Hind’s Hall” in May, named for Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall, which was briefly taken over by student protesters and renamed in honor of Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed alongside her family by Israeli forces in Gaza. He debuted “Hind’s Hall 2” on Saturday at the festival.
Macklemore was dropped Tuesday from the lineup for the inaugural Neon City Festival in Las Vegas. He was set to headline, according to organizers.
The Palestine Will Live Forever festival at Seward Park was described on the ticketing website as “a coming together of Palestinian artists, as well as artists standing in solidarity with Palestine, to uplift the community, raise awareness, and raise funds for humanitarian needs in Palestine.”
