US rapper Macklemore has said that nine major arenas across the United States turned down or withdrew proposed dates for his Free Palestine benefit tour after learning that the concerts would raise funds for organizations providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians.

In a statement posted on Instagram, the rapper said his team had secured potential dates for concerts through the end of 2026 by mid-September, but the arrangements fell through once venue operators learned the purpose of the shows.

“In over twenty years of touring, I’ve never experienced anything like this,” Macklemore wrote.

He said the discussions with venues varied, but all ultimately produced the same result.

The venues he identified included Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, Barclays Center in Brooklyn, UBS Arena in Elmont, Prudential Center in Newark, Intuit Dome and Kia Forum in Inglewood, Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Chase Center in San Francisco, and Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

MSG Entertainment, which operates Madison Square Garden, disputed the rapper's account in comments to Rolling Stone, saying its venues had “extremely limited availability” and describing Macklemore as “not an arena-level act.”

However, the company's response did not directly address his allegation that proposed concert dates were withdrawn after venue operators learned the events would support Palestinian relief organizations.

Representatives of the other eight venues did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone's requests for comment.

The reported difficulties in securing US venues followed a series of sold-out benefit concerts in Europe in October.

According to Rolling Stone, Macklemore performed at Dublin's 3Arena, Paris's Accor Arena, and London's OVO Arena Wembley, with proceeds supporting organizations providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians.

The rapper launched the benefit tour after being dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour in September. Rolling Stone reported that stadium owners had pushed for his removal because of his outspoken support for Palestinians in Gaza.

Despite the reported obstacles to organizing concerts in the United States, Macklemore said he would not be deterred from speaking out for Palestine.

“We want an end to the genocide and we want a Free Palestine,” he wrote. (ILKHA)