Kenneth Glad
Live music tours often spark fierce public arguments. Rarely do concert tickets trigger a diplomatic standoff. A sudden demand from lawmakers could halt one major arena booking just hours before the stadium doors open tonight.
Dozens of politicians are demanding the government block American hip-hop star Macklemore from entering the country. Metro reports that 50 members of the House of Lords sent a formal letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urging her to revoke his travel clearance. He is scheduled to take the stage at London’s OVO Arena Wembley this evening.
Trouble started over where the ticket proceeds are heading. The peers argue the performance is not conducive to the public good because some money supports the Palestinian Youth Movement.
Opponents claim the youth group maintains connections to armed militant factions. Representatives for the movement reject those charges entirely.
According to The Telegraph, the letter written by government adviser Baron Walney takes direct aim at the rapper. “A foreign national proposes to come to Britain to raise money, from a British audience, for an organisation whose record of glorifying terrorism and of intimidating elected representatives should concern any government,” the text reads.
Just hours away
The letter argues keeping the musician out is narrowly targeted. “It would not prevent anyone in this country supporting the humanitarian organisations on Mr Haggerty’s list, nor restrict access to his music,” the document states.
Peers want to stop his financial pipeline. “It would simply decline to grant a foreign national the privilege of raising funds on British soil for an organisation of this kind,” the text continues.
The UK Home Office offered no immediate reply to Metro. This battle follows a turbulent few weeks for the artist.
The rapper lost his opening slot on Ed Sheeran’s tour over vocal political statements during a show. In response, a brand new solo circuit called the Free Palestine Tour took shape.
Solo on stage
Instead of staying quiet, the artist took the road on his own terms. At an opening gig at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre, he addressed the crowd directly.
“Being a human being in this moment is not complicated,” he told fans. “It is not political. It is human to have a heart, to watch others suffering and to say, Not anymore!”
He expanded his message before finishing his speech. “I say, free Sudan. I say, free Congo, Lebanon, to Haiti, to all the people that are affected by ICE in America, who are afraid to leave their houses,” he said.
