GRAMMY Winner Dropped From Inaugural Neon City Festival Following “Anti-America” Remark

Macklemore has been dropped from the inaugural Neon City Festival, a free fest in downtown Las Vegas, after he allegedly made “anti-America” remarks. He has also been showing his support for Palestine with two benefit songs dropped this year, but some of his comments seemingly don’t sit well with others.

He was set to appear at the festival in late November. However, organizers recently released an updated lineup poster on social media with his name removed. They captioned the post, “Macklemore will no longer be performing due to unforeseen circumstances.”

While festival organizers didn’t officially disclose the reason for Macklemore’s departure, there is speculation that it could be from a remark he made recently. While at the Palestine Will Live Forever Festival in Seattle, Macklemore shouted along to a “F–k America” chant from the audience. This allegedly ruffled some feathers.

However, over on Reddit, many fans in a Seattle-based subreddit discussed the incident. One person commented, in response to the original post which has since been deleted, clarifying that the sentiment is more ‘f–k the American institutional power that is f—ing us over and destroying the planet’ and not ‘f–k Americans who are just trying to get by.’”

[RELATED: Macklemore’s New Protest Song Goes Viral, Tom Morello Labels It “The Most Rage Against the Machine Song Since Rage Against the Machine”]

Macklemore Dropped from Festival, Most Likely for Pro-Palestine Protests and Political Statements

In May 2024, Macklemore released his first protest song, “Hind’s Hall,” railing against the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Gazan genocide. On Saturday, September 21, he released “Hind’s Hall 2,” a follow-up to his first protest song. “Hind’s Hall 2” features many Palestinian artists, such as singer Anees and rapper MC Abdul. The singles were named for the building at Columbia University where students set up pro-Palestine protests, renaming the building for Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old girl who was killed in the genocide.

Macklemore performed the song for the first time on September 21 at the Seattle festival. He has long been vocal about his support for Palestine and disgust with the state of American politics, going from simply that thrift store song guy to outspoken activist. Meanwhile, though, he has not yet commented on being dropped from the Las Vegas festival.

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