Macklemore’s “F–k America” ​​chant is condemned by Seattle sports teams

Macklemore’s “f–k America!” chant was condemned by a trio of the Seattle MC’s hometown sports franchises. According to Fox 13 Seattle, the MLB’s Seattle Mariners, along with the NHL’s Seattle Kraken and MLS’s Seattle Sounders FC, criticized the “Thrift Shop” rapper over controversial comments he made at the Palestine Will Live Forever concert last weekend had dropped off in the city.

“We are aware of the incident and agree with the other teams in the city: sports and music should unite us, not divide us,” Mariners vice president of communications Tim Hevly reportedly said in a statement to the station. “We continue to monitor and research the latest developments.”

Macklemore performed a new song at the event, “Hind’s Hall 2,” the sequel to his song of the same name from May, with proceeds going to the United Nations Emergency Relief Agency (UNRWA), which provides aid to Palestinian refugees. “Just say it, I won’t stop you,” Macklemore told the crowd in a fan video of the show. “I won’t stop you… yeah, fuck America.”

On Tuesday, Macklemore was removed from the Las Vegas Neon City Festival lineup without explanation. In a lengthy statement Wednesday, Macklemore — who has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian people amid the years-long war sparked by Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel — explained his thinking at the fair.

“Unfortunately, the historic event in my hometown that brought thousands of people together to raise awareness and money for the people of Palestine was overshadowed by two words,” he said, adding that in the months since, he has not been able to “ went well” The war between Israel and Hamas broke out after the militant group murdered more than 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped more than 250 others. “I was in complete disbelief at the way our government was behaving at this moment in history. I don’t think I’m alone. Some days I don’t know how to love something that hurts others so much. I don’t think I’m alone.”

Following Hamas’ surprise attack nearly a year ago, Israel has waged a relentless bombing campaign on Gaza, killing more than 41,000 people and forcing most of its more than two million residents from their homes, according to Palestinian health authorities. Israel recently opened a second front in the war in Lebanon, where attacks on Iran’s proxy group Hezbollah have already killed more than 500 people this week, as the Pentagon fears a possible Israeli ground invasion that could lead to a devastating regional war.

Macklemore’s 2012 song “Can’t Hold Us” was a staple of the seventh inning of Mariners games, and Hevly’s statement came after the Sounders and Kraken also distanced themselves from the rapper earlier this week; Macklemore and his wife Tricia Davis are among the minority co-owners of the Sounders and the Kraken.

“We believe that sport brings people together and unites 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 Sounders and Kraken said in a joint statement on Monday. According to Fox 13, the Mariners, Kraken and Sounders are “evaluating their next steps regarding his involvement in their respective organizations” as backlash over the comment continues to grow.

As of press time, a spokesperson for Macklemore had not yet returned billboardPlease comment.