Macklemore has been dropped by Neon City Festival after saying "Fuck America" during a benefit performance in his hometown of Seattle, WA, over the weekend.
UPDATE (9/26, 9:17 a.m. ET): The rapper has now issued a statement clarifying his comments at the Palestine Will Live Forever benefit concert. "My thoughts and feelings are not always expressed perfectly or politely," he wrote on Instagram. "Sometimes I slip up and get caught in the moment. Saturday night was one of those times."
"I have been disillusioned and disheartened as our government has continued to unequivocally fund and support Israel's on-going violence against the people of Palestine. I don't think I'm not alone," he continued, explaining, "Do not misconstrue the word 'fuck' for the word 'hate.' It's different to be angry than to disown. My 'fuck' — my anger — is rooted not in distain for where I was born but in anguish for how we can collectively allow this to continue."
After the inaugural Las Vegas, NV-based music festival announced the rapper among its headliners — including Alison Wonderland, Neon Trees, Russell Dickerson and Seven Lions — on September 19, the fest has now announced that "Macklemore will no longer be performing due to unforeseen circumstances."
I'd say the circumstances were at least somewhat decently foreseen: Macklemore's politics have been pretty front-and-centre in his music, and the artist has been especially outspokenly pro-Palestine, releasing protest song "Hind's Hall" back in May and its sequel earlier this week. On Saturday (September 21), he hosted the Palestine Will Live Forever benefit concert supporting several Palestinian aid organizations (Pious Projects, HEAL Palestine, United Nations Relief and Works Agency, and the Palestine Children's Relief Fund). According to fan-shot footage circulating online, the rapper said "Fuck America" during his performance.
Macklemore has yet to publicly comment on his exodus from the Neon City Festival lineup. However, two Seattle-based sports franchises with whom he's affiliated have addressed the remarks: "We believe that sports bring people together and unite us. We are aware of Macklemore's increasingly divisive comments, and they do not reflect the values of our respective ownership groups, leagues, or organizations," the Seattle Kraken and Seattle Sounders FC said in a joint statement [via Pitchfork]. "We are currently evaluating our collective options on this matter."
"We are aware of the incident and agree with the other teams in town: Sports and music should connect, not divide us. We continue to monitor and research the latest developments," a member of the Seattle Mariners' front office added.