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Macklemore Says Major Arenas Refusing to Host His “Free Palestine” Tour in US
Macklemore says nine major US arenas withdrew available dates for his “Free Palestine” benefit tour after learning the shows would raise money for Palestine. The claim raises questions about whether political advocacy is affecting performers’ access to venues; the arena operators’ explanations are not included in the article.
He named Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, Prudential Center, UBS Arena, Climate Pledge Arena, Intuit Dome, Kia Forum, Crypto.com Arena and Chase Center. The tour has held three sold-out shows in Dublin, Paris and London, with guest acts including Hozier, Aurora and Paloma Faith. Macklemore says he still intends to bring it to the US, potentially through outdoor performances or stages built for the shows.
In short
- Macklemore says nine US arenas withdrew dates for his benefit tour.
- The shows would raise money for Palestine.
- He plans to keep pursuing US dates, including outdoor shows.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
If arenas withdrew dates because the concerts raise money for Palestine, that could indicate political advocacy is restricting artists’ access to major venues. Performers should be able to support humanitarian causes, and audiences and donors should be able to attend lawful benefit events without their views alone determining access to cultural spaces.
The case against
Arena operators may have legitimate commercial, contractual or operational reasons for changing availability, and the account gives no explanation from them to establish that the decision was political. Even if political considerations played a part, private venues can weigh reputational concerns, audience response and business risks when choosing which events to host.
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