Rapper Macklemore says 'F*ck America' to cheering Seattle festival benefiting groups with terrorist ties

Rapper Macklemore said "F*ck America," to cheers from a crowd at pro-Palestinian music festival Saturday in Seattle. This comes the rapper has been vocal about his disdain for Israel amid the conflict between the Jewish state and Hamas terrorists. Festival proceeds went to support groups with ties to Hamas such as the UNRWA as well as others. 

While at the "Palestine Will Live Forever" event in Seward Park Amphitheater in the heart of Seattle’s largest Jewish community on the Jewish Sabbath, the 41-year-old rapper, born Benjamin Hammond Haggerty in Kent, Washington, also rapped about supporting the “resistance” against Israel, meaning Hamas, called Israelis "motherf*ckers" and accused them of "murdering little kids" and claimed, "There will never be freedom by pleading with Zionists."

He also rapped about “freeing Palestine” from the "all mighty dollar sign," a classic antisemitic trope about Jews and money, and demanded that Kamala Harris stop supporting Israel. He told the audience that he started doing "research" after Oct 7, 2023, and that's why he decided to support the Palestinians after Hamas carried out the deadly massacre of over 1,000 people and took around 250 hostages. He then falsely blamed Israel for a "genocide" that he said has been “happening since 1948,” the year the Jewish state was established.

Proceeds from the event went to nonprofits with ties to terrorism such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The group recently fired employees for taking part in the October 7 massacre last year. Beneficiary Pious Projects also has ties to subsidizing Hamas. 

In May, Macklemore dropped the pro-Palestinian rap "Hind’s Hall," which praised the Gaza camp agitators that occupied Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall and reportedly held staff hostage in the building. The rap praised the encampments and protests on college campuses across the US, and slammed President Joe Biden, the police, and the music industry.

The new rap that he debuted this weekend was a follow-up that called out Vice President Kamala Harris saying, "Hey Kamala, I don’t know if you listening but stop sending the money and weapons or you ain’t winning Michigan. We uncommitted and hell no we ain’t switching positions because the whole world turn Palestinian."

The music video showed progressive “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MI) in a positive light and included the antisemitic chant, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

While Macklemore performed, the live stream displayed the Jordanian flag, after someone likely mistook it for the Palestinian flag.

Macklemore, who has an estimated net worth of $25 million, also claimed in the rap, "Capitalism killing us, that’s something we can’t afford."

Macklemore has a history of antisemitism, even wearing a costume onstage that included a black wig, beard, and prosthetic nose in 2014. 

Even actor Seth Rogen called out the rapper, writing on X at the time: "Makelmore, first you trick people into thinking you're a rapper, now you trick them into thinking you're Jewish?"

The festival was held over the objections of the Jewish community, who increased security in response. Some of the activists targeted a Jewish home that displayed the American and Israeli flag.