{"id":909029,"date":"2026-11-07T11:18:13","date_gmt":"2026-11-07T11:18:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/909029\/"},"modified":"2026-11-07T11:18:13","modified_gmt":"2026-11-07T11:18:13","slug":"macklemore-says-climate-pledge-arena-among-venues-that-rejected-his-free-palestine-tour-kiro-7-news-seattle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/909029\/","title":{"rendered":"Macklemore says Climate Pledge Arena among venues that rejected his \u2018Free Palestine Tour\u2019 \u2013 KIRO 7 News Seattle"},"content":{"rendered":"

SEATTLE \u2014 Macklemore said several venues, including Climate Pledge Arena in his hometown of Seattle, have rejected his efforts to bring his \u201cFree Palestine Tour\u201d<\/a> to the U.S.<\/p>\n

In an Instagram post<\/a> Friday, Macklemore said nine major American arenas turned the tour down: Madison Square Garden, Prudential Center, Barclays Center, UBS Arena, Intuit Dome, Kia Forum, Crypto.com Arena, Chase Center, and Climate Pledge Arena.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy mid-September, we received available dates at these arenas through the end of the year,\u201d Macklemore wrote. \u201cBut once they found out these were my benefit shows for Palestine, those dates were suddenly off the table. The doors were closed. The conversations were all different, but the result was the same. The shows were not going to be allowed to happen in these venues.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn over twenty years of touring, I\u2019ve never experienced anything like this,\u201d he continued. \u201cBut 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Macklemore added that he would rather lose every opportunity than \u201cspend another day protecting people who value their business relationships with Israel more than they value Palestinian human life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Macklemore points to sold-out European shows amid U.S. venue rejections<\/p>\n

Last month, Macklemore took his tour to Dublin, Paris, and London. All proceeds went to benefit organizations supporting Palestine and the Palestinian movement, according to his website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at what just happened in Europe,\u201d Macklemore wrote. \u201cThree sold-out arenas. Tens of thousands of people from different backgrounds, religions, and walks of life standing together. More than 40 artists and speakers putting their names and platforms behind Palestinian liberation. For all the attempts to paint this movement as one rooted in hatred, what filled those rooms was love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Macklemore was dropped<\/a> from Ed Sheeran\u2019s tour in September after saying \u201cFree Palestine\u201d at MetLife Stadium.<\/p>\n

He ended his Instagram post by stating that the tour will continue even without major arenas.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere comes a point when the world changes, not because those in power give us permission, but because the people stop asking for it,\u201d Macklemore wrote. \u201cWe will build our own stages. They may own the arenas. But they do not own the people who fill them. And they never will.\u201d<\/p>\n

Follow Julia Dallas on X.<\/a> Read her stories here<\/a>. Submit news tips here.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n