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Macklemore Removed From Neon City Festival After Anti-American Comment
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Macklemore Removed From Neon City Festival After Anti-American Comment


Macklemore has been removed from the first Neon City Festival in Las Vegas, days after he made an anti-American comment at a pro-Palestinian festival.

Grammy Award-winning musician Macklemore will not perform at the first Neon City Festival in Las Vegas after making a controversial comment about America during a concert last weekend.

“Macklemore will no longer be performing due to unforeseen circumstances,” an Instagram post shared by festival organizers on Tuesday said.

The festival did not specify why Macklemore was removed, but the decision comes days after the “Thrift Shop” rapper stirred controversy with a comment he made during a performance at a pro-Palestine festival in Seattle. Videos of the concert circulating on social media captured the 41-year-old saying “(expletive) America” ​​during his performance on Saturday.

Macklemore has been an outspoken supporter of Palestine in the past and has criticized American leaders for the country’s support for Israel.

The Neon City Festival will now be headlined by DJ Alison Wonderland, rock band Neon Trees, singer-songwriter Russell Dickerson and DJ Seven Lions. The festival is scheduled for November 22-24.

USA TODAY reached out to the music festival and Macklemore’s representatives on Tuesday but did not immediately receive a response.

Macklemore made remark at pro-Palestine festival

Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, made the anti-American remark during the “Palestine Will Live Forever” festival. He was singing his pro-Palestinian song “Hinds Hall.”

“Join us for a day of artistry and cultural celebration,” the festival’s website states. “Palestine Will Live Forever is a coming together of Palestinian artists, as well as artists in solidarity with Palestine, to uplift the community, raise awareness, and fundraise for humanitarian needs in Palestine.”

Macklemore recently collaborated with Palestinian artists, releasing a follow-up to his song “Hinds Hall” titled “Hinds Hall 2.” The track features Palestinian-American artists Anees and Amer Zahr, Gaza-born rapper MC Abdul, and the LA Palestinian Kids Choir.

“Hey Kamala, I don’t know if you’re listening,” Macklemore says in the song. “But stop sending money and guns, or you won’t win Michigan/We ain’t committed, and (expletive) no, we ain’t switching positions.”

Macklemore is an open supporter of Palestine and has posted several messages on his social media pages expressing his support for the country.

“Free Palestine 🇵🇸…The message is love,” he wrote in the caption of an Instagram post on December 24, 2023.