US rapper Macklemore says nine major US arenas have refused to host his "Free Palestine" tour, which recently completed three sold-out dates in Europe.
In an Instagram statement, the Grammy-winning artist, who has long been an outspoken critic of Israel's genocidal war on Palestinian Gaza, said he plans to bring the tour to the US following successful concerts in Dublin, Paris and London.
"After weeks of contacting us, nine major US arenas turned us down," he wrote, naming Madison Square Garden, Prudential Center, Barclays Center, Intuit Dome, Please Forum, Crypto. With Arena, Chase Center and the Climate Arena.
Macklemore said his team had secured dates available at the venues until the end of 2026 until mid-September, but those opportunities disappeared after operators learned the concerts would benefit Palestine. He added that he had never experienced anything like it in more than two decades of touring.