Macklemore Clarifies “F— America” Comment After Being Dropped From Festival

Macklemore has issued a statement after facing backlash for saying “fuck America” at the benefit festival Palestine Will Live Forever. Writing on social media, he called the comment a “slip up” but pledged his “unwavering” support for Palestine, adding that Americans should “rise and recognize our collective power rather than succumb to our own apathy.” The event, he said, was “rooted in peace, love, and solidarity” and should not have been “overshadowed by two words.”

On September 24, Macklemore was dropped from the inaugural Neon City Festival, less than a week after being announced as a headliner. The festival cited “unforeseen circumstances,” though two Seattle sports franchises with whom he is affiliated had already distanced themselves from his “increasingly divisive comments,” as they said in a joint statement. A member of the Seattle Mariners’ front office added, “We are aware of the incident and agree with the other teams in town: Sports and music should connect, not divide us.”

In his statement, Macklemore went on, in part:

I wish I had been in a better place with my grief and anger. But the truth is I’m not OK. I haven’t been.

The last 11.5 months of watching a genocide unfold in front of us has been excruciating on a spiritual, emotional and human level. I have been in utter disbelief with how our government is showing up at this moment in history. I don’t think I’m alone.

I see dismembered kids in Gaza being pulled out of rubble, murder by U.S. manufactured bombs. I see my own children in their lifeless bodies. I don’t think I’m alone. […]

I am outraged by the fact that we lack money for healthcare, affordable housing, and education in America, yet we send billions to Israel to commit internationally recognized war crimes. I don’t think I’m alone.

Yet, I have been mobilized by the millions of people around the world taking to the streets to protest on behalf of all those that have been murdered by Netanyahu’s regime. I have been in awe and inspired by those in the Jewish community that have courageously shown up in solidarity, marching with posters at protests stating “not in our name” and “never again means never again for everyone.” I don’t think I’m alone.

Palestine Will Live Forever benefitted several aid organizations: Pious Projects, HEAL Palestine, United Nations Relief and Works Agency, and the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. Macklemore’s appearance followed his pro-Palestine songs “Hind’s Hall” and “Hind’s Hall 2,” the latter of which features Palestinian American artists Anees and Amer Zahr, the Gaza-born rapper MC Abdul, and a Los Angeles Palestinian youth choir.