DUBAI: US rapper Macklemore has cancelled his show in Dubai, which had been scheduled for Oct. 4.
At the time of writing, the "Thrift Shop" rapper, as well as events organizer Platinum List UAE, did not give a reason for the cancellation.
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, is known for hits such as “Can’t Hold Us.”
The Grammy-winning artist has been a staunch supporter of Palestinians and released the single Hind's Hall in May, which essays the conflict in Gaza.
Titled “Hind’s Hall,” the track honors Hind Rajab, the 6-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed in Gaza while waiting to be rescued. The title drew inspiration from the global student protests that followed.
“The people, they won’t leave / What is threatening about divesting and wanting peace? / The problem isn’t the protests, it’s what they’re protesting / It goes against what our country is funding / Block the barricade until Palestine is free,” he sings.
“What you willing to risk? / What you willing to give? / What if you were in Gaza? / What if those were your kids? You’d want the world to stand up / And the students finally did.”
He performed the song live in New Zealand in May, saying: “I stand here today and every day forward for the rest of my life in solidarity with the people of Palestine, with an open heart, in the belief that our collective liberation is at stake – that we all deserve freedom in this life of ours."
*Arab News has updated this article to clarify the timeline.
