Macklemore Addresses “F*** America” Comments, Says He’s “Not OK” and Hasn’t Been Since Oct. 7

Macklemore took to social media on Wednesday to share a lengthy statement following his comments at Seattle’s Palestine Will Live Forever festival over the weekend.

Following his performance at the event, during which he led a “Fuck America” chant, the artist received a lot of backlash and was dropped from Las Vegas’ inaugural Neon City Festival in November.

He began his statement by noting that sometimes he slips up and his thoughts and feelings are not always expressed in the best way.

“I strive to always lead with love in an effort to bring people together and never to create more division,” he wrote. “The ‘Palestine Will Live Forever’ festival I performed at was rooted in peace, love and solidarity. Unfortunately, the historic event in my hometown that brought thousands of people together to raise awareness and money for the people of Palestine has become overshadowed by two words.”

The “Thrift Shop” rapper continued, “I wish I had been in a better place with my grief and anger. But the truth is I’m not ok. I haven’t been. The last 11.5 months of watching a genocide unfold in front of us has been excruciating on a spiritual, emotional and human level. I have been in utter disbelief with how our government is showing up at this moment in history. I don’t think I’m alone.”

Macklemore went on to say that he has seen children being pulled out of the rubble in Gaza and pictures his own children. He listens to their parents scream and hears their cries of pain and helplessness. He explained that his emotions at times feel uncontrollable and boil over as he pretends to be OK.

“I am outraged by the fact that we lack money for healthcare, affordable housing and education in America yet we send billions to Israel to commit internationally recognized war crimes,” he wrote. “I watch democrats sign bills to ban semi-automatic assault rifles after another horrific school shooting takes place, then turn around and use the same ink to send those same weapons off to Israel to kill the children of Palestine. I feel insane. … Some days I don’t know how to love something that is hurting others so much.”

The artist then took a moment to praise all the people who have been taking to the streets to protest on behalf of those who “have been murdered by [Benjamin] Netanyahu’s regime.” He shared that he’s been inspired by people in the Jewish community who have shown up in solidarity, marching with posters at protests that read “not in our name” and “never again means never again for everyone.”

He also said he found hope in the young people who were willing to risk their degrees to participate in college encampments and demand a ceasefire.

“But some days the darkness outshines the light, and it’s hard to see the path ahead to justice. I get lost in what our world has become,” Macklemore continued. “Some days the genocide displayed on my screen is too much for my spirit to stare at in such clarity,” which leads him to say to himself “Fuck America.”

However, he noted, his use of the word “fuck” is not interchangeable with the word “hate.” “It’s different to be angry than to disown,” he wrote. “My ‘fuck’ — my anger — is rooted not in disdain for where I was born but in anguish for how we can collectively allow this to continue.”

Macklemore clarified that his anger is not directed at the people of America but at the government and politicians who refuse to listen to the people of America. He stated that the Free Palestine movement is calling on Americans to “rise and recognize our collective power rather than succumb to our own apathy.”

“I’ve slipped in front of the world before. I’m sure I’ll do it again. But they will not silence my voice, and they will not close my heart,” he began his conclusion. “I’ve lost endorsements, I’ve lost shows, I’ve lost business ties. I am still here, unwavering in my support for a Free Palestine.”

Read the full statement below.