‘I am not okay. I have never been’

Macklemore is clarifying — and doubling down — on his “f— America” remark in a brand new, prolonged assertion on Instagram.

On Wednesday, the singer-rapper addressed the backlash over viral movies exhibiting him saying “f— America” whereas performing onstage at Seattle’s charity music occasion Palestine Will Stay Without end over the weekend.

“My ideas and emotions usually are not all the time expressed completely or politely,” his assertion begins. “Typically I slip up and get caught within the second. Saturday night time was a type of occasions. I try to all the time lead with love in an effort to convey folks collectively and by no means to create extra division. The ‘Palestine Will Stay Without end’ competition I carried out at was rooted in peace, love and solidarity. Sadly, the historic occasion in my hometown that introduced 1000’s of individuals collectively to boost consciousness and cash for the folks of Palestine has turn into overshadowed by two phrases. I want I had been in a greater place with my grief and anger. However the reality is I am not okay. I have never been.”

The “Thrift Store” singer goes on to debate how the previous yr “of watching a genocide unfold in entrance of us has been excruciating on a non secular, emotional and human degree.”

“I’ve been in utter disbelief with how our authorities is exhibiting up at this second in historical past,” he continues. “I do not suppose I am alone. I see dismembered children in Gaza being pulled out of rubble, homicide by U.S manufactured bombs. I see my very own kids of their lifeless our bodies. I do not suppose I am alone.”

Macklemore continues repeating the phrase “I do not suppose I am alone” in describing how he has turn into “disillusioned and disheartened as our authorities has continued to unequivocally fund and help Israel’s on-going violence in opposition to the folks of Palestine.”

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“My ache and emotion at occasions has felt uncontrollable,” he says. “It boils over all through the day as I attempt to faux I am okay. I am not okay. I do not suppose I am alone. I’m outraged by the truth that we lack cash for healthcare, reasonably priced housing and training in America but we ship billions to Israel to commit internationally acknowledged struggle crimes… I really feel insane… Some days I do not know the way to love one thing that’s hurting others a lot.”

Macklemore provides that he has been “mobilized” by everybody who has been protesting “on behalf of all these which were murdered by Netanyahu’s regime,” together with “these within the Jewish group which have courageously proven up in solidarity, marching with posters at protests stating ‘not in our identify’ and ‘by no means once more means by no means once more for everybody.'” The singer additionally praises faculty children “who’ve been keen to threat their levels by collaborating in faculty encampments to demand a ceasefire.”

However he says that “some days the darkness outshines the sunshine” and he will get “misplaced in what our world has turn into.”

“I get up, see one other couple billion {dollars} given to Israel, or one other refugee encampment destroyed, or a father holding a limb from his martyred baby, or one other speech from a politician justifying the correct of Israel to ‘defend itself’ whereas denying Palestinians the correct to exist, and I say to myself…. ‘F— America.’ I do not suppose I am alone,” he wrote.

He would not need anybody to “misconstrue the phrase ‘f—‘ for the phrase ‘hate,'” nonetheless. “It is totally different to be offended than to disown,” he added. “My ‘f—‘ — my anger — is rooted not in distain [sic] for the place I used to be born however in anguish for a way we are able to collectively enable this to proceed. It’s not directed on the folks that make up our nation, however in the direction of our authorities who refuse to take heed to us.”

Macklemore acknowledges that he is “slipped in entrance of the world earlier than.”

“I am positive I will do it once more,” he continues. “However they won’t silence my voice, and they won’t shut my coronary heart. I’ve misplaced endorsements, I’ve misplaced exhibits, I’ve misplaced enterprise ties. I’m nonetheless right here, unwavering in my help for a Free Palestine.”

Learn his full assertion beneath:

Whereas Macklemore’s declaration of “f— America” was met with applause and cheers within the second, the backlash has been rapid. On Tuesday, Neon Metropolis Pageant in Las Vegas introduced on Instagram that he would not be a headliner as a result of “unexpected circumstances.”

Macklemore can be a minority proprietor of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken and the Seattle Sounders FC, and the 2 groups launched a joint assertion to KOMO Information in regards to the controversy: “We’re conscious of Macklemore’s more and more divisive feedback, and they don’t replicate the values of our respective possession teams, leagues, or organizations. We’re at present evaluating our collective choices on this matter.”