Macklemore ripped for controversial chants at Seattle concert benefiting UN agency linked to Hamas

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON: Rapper Macklemore sparked outrage following his recent 'Palestine Will Live Forever' performance in Seattle when he told a hyped-up crowd: “F**k America.”

The Grammy-winning rapper didn’t hold back, and the audience seemingly ate it up. According to a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), Macklemore’s comments followed some crowd chants. He egged them on by saying, “Straight up, say it. I’m not gonna stop you,” before adding his own exclamation: “Yeah, F**k America,” which drew cheers from the crowd.

This wasn’t just any regular show. It was part of the 'Palestine Will Live Forever Festival' that Macklemore had been advertising on his Facebook page. Held at the Seward Park Amphitheater, the concert was meant to raise money for several groups, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).

It's worth noting that the UNRWA has been under fire for alleged connections with Hamas, a Palestinian militant group that’s been at the center of conflict in Gaza. In fact, Israeli officials have claimed that the agency has close ties to Hamas, and the UN itself recently fired nine UNRWA employees for possible involvement in the Hamas terror attack on Israel in October.

Macklemore’s controversial activism

The video of Macklemore’s comments was shared by journalist Cam Higby, and it wasn’t long before the backlash came rolling in.

This isn’t the first time Macklemore has waded into politically charged waters. Back in May, he released a track titled 'Hind’s Hall' taking aim at Israel and praising protests on college campuses across the US.

The song was named after a building at Columbia University that students had renamed in honor of a 6-year-old Palestinian girl who died during the Israel-Gaza conflict. In the track, Macklemore doesn’t just criticize Israel—he also calls out President Joe Biden, the police, and the entire music industry.

Just this month, Macklemore released a second version of 'Hind’s Hall' — and this time he went after Vice President Kamala Harris. In the updated lyrics, he warns Harris that she could lose support in Michigan—a key battleground state with a major Arab and Muslim population—because of her support for Israel.

“Hey Kamala, I don’t know if you listening but stop sending the money and weapons or you ain’t winning Michigan,” the song warns. He also goes on to say, “There will never be freedom by pleading with Zionists,” and even drops the infamous chant, “From the river to the sea” — a phrase that calls for the destruction of Israel, the New York Post reported.

Macklemore’s politics aren’t limited to Israel and Palestine, though. He’s also been vocal about other conflicts in the Middle East. Just last month, he canceled a concert in Dubai over the United Arab Emirates’ involvement in the crisis in Sudan.

According to the Associated Press, Macklemore made the decision after hearing that the UAE was allegedly supporting a paramilitary group responsible for much of the violence in Sudan.

In a post on Instagram, Macklemore said he’d received messages from people “asking me to cancel the show in solidarity with the people of Sudan and to boycott doing business in the UAE for the role they are playing in the ongoing genocide and humanitarian crisis.”

Rapper slammed on social media for his comments

That said, the rapper was widely excoriated on social media for chanting “F**k America" to the crowd of concertgoers in Seattle.

"If you hate this country, then get tf out. Go find one that represents your ideals. America doesn't want or need your trash here," one posted on X.

"Shame. This country made Macklemore possible. Where else could he have got rich and famous?? Shame," another fumed.

"Dude just insulted himself and the country that gave him everything he has… Make it make sense?" a user wondered.

"Funny bc if it wasn’t for men with honor and courage he wouldn’t have the chance to say this garbage in English," someone else chimed in.

"Is the irony never lost on these people that you can spout this kind of nonsense as much as you want here and never end up in a gulag," read a comment.

"Put any one of these people in another country and they be begging to come back," another offered.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.