The rapper, well-known for bragging about “popping tags” on his famed Thrift Store tune, resides on stolen native lands after he hijacked the highlight at an Ed Sheeran live performance with an anti-Israel rant.
Macklemore, whose actual identify is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, proudly known as to “Free Palestine” and accused Israel of committing genocide at a New Jersey Meadowlands present final week.
“I wished to face up right here on levels throughout America and say two phrases which might be close to and pricey to my coronary heart: Free Palestine,” the Grammy-winning rapper stated as he wore a keffiyeh draped over his shoulders.
Whereas he made the statements, his multi-million-dollar Seattle abode sat on stolen Native American land.
Haggerty owns a three-bedroom, 2.25-bathroom dwelling in Seattle’s North Capitol Hill neighborhood and has lived there for greater than a decade.
The North Capitol Hill neighborhood, like the remainder of Seattle, is a part of historic ancestral lands of native folks.
“We acknowledge that the town of Seattle and its greenspaces are on stolen Coast Salish land, particularly the ancestral land of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Stillaguamish, and Muckleshoot Folks,” a land acknowledgement from the Inexperienced Seattle Partnership says.
“We acknowledge the stewardship of Seattle’s greenspaces by the Coast Salish folks since time immemorial, the disruption of this work by colonization, and now endeavor to proceed this work,” it added.
The artist has acknowledged his position in proudly owning a house on stolen land. He’s additionally recognized for doing land acknowledgements earlier than his live shows.
“I’m from Seattle, Washington, occupied Duwamish territory,” he stated in a Might 2024 LANDBACK FOR THE PEOPLE podcast episode.
The artist spouted an anti-Israel sentiment throughout his current present with Sheeran in New Jersey, and the Israeli-American Council began a petition Sunday calling for Sheeran to drop the “Thrift Store” singer from the rest of his tour, accusing the rapper of spreading antisemitic propaganda.
The rapper additionally carried out his track, “Hindi’s Corridor,” a reference to the pro-Palestine protests on the Columbia College campus, whereas pictures from Gaza have been performed on large screens.
Fellow artists PINK and Boy George have criticized Macklemore for his anti-Israel statements.
PINK reposted a StopAntisemitism publish that known as for all concertgoers to be refunded and stated they’re “owed apologies.”
Tradition Membership singer Boy George made a for much longer condemnation of Macklemore.
“With reference to @macklemore it’s vital to notice that slogans resembling ‘Free Palestine’ provide the looks of ethical braveness with out requiring a lot political information. @edsheeran clearly has no backbone and as for @Palomafaith and her silly virtuous squealing of enjoyment about Mackle-bore when she is about as political as a soggy tuna sandwich. The entire thing makes me queasy,” he wrote on X.
Macklemore stated Monday that his rant was not a criticism of Jewish folks.
“To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being in opposition to genocide, is on no account a criticism of you,” he stated in a video posted to social media.
The Can’t Maintain Us singer isn’t the one artist going through backlash over “stolen land” rhetoric.
Billie Eilish landed herself in sizzling water after declaring on the Grammys, “Nobody is against the law on stolen land.” Critics mocked the multimillionaire singer, with one urging her to “hand over the keys” to her Los Angeles property. Eilish purchased a $2.3 million horse ranch in Glendale at 17; it beforehand belonged to singer Leona Lewis.
