Madison Square Garden has rejected Macklemore’s claim that it refused to host his “Free Palestine” tour because of the event’s political message, saying the rapper is not considered an arena-level act.
An MSG Entertainment spokesperson said: “We have some of the busiest venues in the world with extremely limited availability and he’s not an arena level act.”
Macklemore claimed that nine major US arenas, including Madison Square Garden in New York, had declined to host the tour following three sold-out shows in Europe.
He alleged that the venues turned him away after learning the concerts would raise money for Palestine. The rapper also said the words “Free Palestine” were viewed as a threat because they “challenge the systems of power they built their fortunes on.”
Despite the refusals, Macklemore said he and his supporters could “build our own stages”, leaving open the possibility of new venues hosting the concerts in the United States.
