Macklemore responds after Seattle sports teams evaluate ties to rapper following “f—” America comment

SEATTLE – Seattle-born music artist Macklemore responded to criticism Wednesday after a viral video on social media showed him uttering the words “F— America” ​​on stage.

“My thoughts and feelings are not always expressed perfectly or politely,” Macklemore, 41, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, wrote in an Instagram post. “Sometimes I make a mistake and get caught up in the moment. Saturday night was one of those moments.”

The video was shot over the weekend at a charity music event in Seattle's Seward Park called “Palestine Will Live Forever” that benefited pro-Palestinian organizations.

Macklemore said in his statement that he was “disillusioned and disheartened” by the US government's funding of the war in Gaza and how the conflict has developed.

“I wish I had been in a better place with my grief and my anger,” Macklemore said. “But the truth is that I’m not feeling well. That wasn’t me.”

On Tuesday, organizers of the Neon City Festival in Las Vegas announced that he would no longer be one of their featured performers due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

Many in Washington's Jewish community are responding, telling us they are hurt by his words.

“A lot of people are just disgusted,” said Randy Kessler, the regional director of Stand With Us Northwest, a nonprofit organization. The group's mission is to support Israel and combat anti-Semitism.

Ari Hoffman, a vocal Jewish community leader who also serves as president of Seattle synagogue BCHM, told KING 5 on Tuesday: “A lot of people on my social media are saying, 'I deleted it from my playlist. Over, done.' ”

Some are now calling on local sports teams to take action.

“Honestly, we would like the Mariners to stop using his song as a seventh-inning stretch song. Let's go back to 'Louie, Louie,' which was very popular and would appeal to everyone,” Kessler said.

Hoffman echoed that sentiment.

“They want sports to be a unifying factor,” Hoffman said.

Macklemore is a minority owner of the Seattle Kraken and Sounders FC, and the two teams released a joint statement saying: “We are aware of Macklemore's increasingly divisive comments and they do not reflect the values ​​of our respective ownership groups, leagues or organizations .” . We are currently reviewing our joint options on this matter.”

However, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) emphasized Macklemore's right to free speech. They told KING 5 on Tuesday: “Protesting the genocide in Gaza is held to a different standard than other issues in our country. Macklemore’s comments illustrate our government’s open and ongoing complicity in this human rights catastrophe.”

Kessler sees it differently.

“What I think Macklemore should really understand is the damage his words are doing to the Jewish community while trying to help the Palestinians,” Kessler said.

Many in the community also told KING 5 they were offended that he made such a comment in the same Seattle neighborhood that is home to the largest Jewish population.

KING 5's request for comment from the Mariners, who routinely play his song “Can't Hold Us” at the stadium, was not returned by publication date.

Macklemore denied that he was communicating “hate” with his comments, claiming he was angry but that it was not directed at American citizens.

“It’s different to be angry than to be in denial,” Macklemore said. “My 'f—' – my anger – is rooted not in contempt for my birthplace, but in concern about how we can collectively allow this to continue.”