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

Macklemore's “F–k America!” chant drew condemnation from a trio of the Seattle MC's sports teams. According to Fox 13 Seattle, the MLB's Seattle Mariners joined the NHL's Seattle Kraken and the MLS' Seattle Sounders FC in criticizing the “Thrift Shop” rapper for controversial comments he made at the Palestine Will Live Forever concert in the city last weekend.

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

Macklemore performed a new song at the event, “Hind's Hall 2,” the follow-up to his May song of the same name, with proceeds going to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which provides aid to Palestinian refugees. “Speak up, I'm not going to stop you,” Macklemore told the crowd in a fan video from the show. “I'm not going to stop you… yeah, screw America.”

On Tuesday, Macklemore was pulled from the Neon City Festival in Las Vegas without explanation. In a lengthy statement on Wednesday, Macklemore – who has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian people during the years-long war sparked by Hamas' deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7 – explained his attitude toward the show.

“Unfortunately, the historic event in my hometown that brought thousands of people together to raise awareness and funds for the Palestinian people has been overshadowed by two words,” he said, adding that he had not been “well” in the months since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out, in which the militant group murdered more than 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped more than 250 others. “I just can't believe the way our government is behaving at this historic moment. I don't think I'm alone. Some days I don't know how to love something that causes so much suffering to others. I don't think I'm alone.”

Israel has been bombing Gaza relentlessly since Hamas launched a surprise attack almost a year ago. According to Palestinian health officials, over 41,000 people have been killed and most of the country's more than two million residents have been displaced from their homes. Israel recently opened a second front in the war in Lebanon. Over 500 people have already been killed this week in attacks on the Iranian proxy group Hezbollah. The Pentagon fears a possible Israeli ground invasion that could lead to a devastating war in the region.

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

“We believe that sports brings people together and unites us. We are aware of Macklemore's increasingly polarizing 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, as backlash to the comment grows, the Mariners, Kraken and Sounders are “evaluating their next steps regarding his involvement with their respective organizations.”

At press time, a spokesman for Macklemore had not yet returned BillboardPlease leave a comment.