Macklemore quit the Neon City Festival after an anti-American comment

Macklemore was banned from the first Neon City Festival in Las Vegas just days after he made an anti-American remark during a pro-Palestine festival.

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

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

The festival has not specified why Macklemore was dropped, but the decision comes days after the “Thrift Shop” rapper sparked controversy over a remark he made during a performance at a pro-Palestine festival in Seattle. Videos of the concert shared on social media showed the 41-year-old saying “(expletive) America” during his performance on Saturday.

Macklemore has been a vocal supporter of Palestine in the past and criticized the U.S. leadership for the country’s support of Israel.

The headliners of the Neon City Festival are now DJ Alison Wonderland, the rock band Neon Trees, the singer-songwriter Russell Dickerson and DJ Seven Lions. The festival is scheduled to take place from November 22nd to 24th.

USA TODAY contacted the music festival and Macklemore’s representatives on Tuesday and did not immediately receive a response.

Macklemore controversy: Macklemore clarifies remark at pro-Palestine concert in Seattle: “Sometimes I make a mistake”

Macklemore made a comment during the pro-Palestine festival

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

“Come join us for a day of artistic and cultural celebration,” says the festival’s website. “Palestine Will Live Forever is a gathering of Palestinian artists, as well as artists who stand in solidarity with Palestine, to strengthen the community, raise awareness and raise funds for humanitarian needs in Palestine.”

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

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“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’re noncommittal, and (expletive) No, we’re not switching positions.”

Macklemore is a public supporter of Palestine and has shared various posts in support of the country on his social media pages.

“Free Palestine 🇵🇸…The message is love,” he wrote as a caption in a December 24, 2023 Instagram post.

Macklemore was banned from the first Neon City Festival in Las Vegas just days after he made an anti-American remark during a pro-Palestine festival.

Macklemore made a comment during the pro-Palestine festival

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