U.S. rapper Macklemore has called off his October 4 performance at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena in the United Arab Emirates. Social media users have speculated that the pro-Palestine rapper canceled the event as a gesture of solidarity with Gaza, Palestine.
Social Media Users Allege Macklemore Canceled Dubai Show Over Gaza War
On August 23, U.S. rapper Macklemore canceled his upcoming show in Dubai, originally scheduled for October 4 at the Coca-Cola Arena.
Ticketholders were notified of the cancellation by Platinum List, which assured that all purchases would be refunded automatically within 21 working days. The event has also been removed from the Coca-Cola Arena's website.
Following the cancellation of the show, many social media users speculated that Macklemore's decision was a gesture of support for Palestinians in Gaza and a stance against the ongoing Israeli genocidal campaign in Gaza.
Many social media users circulated a screenshot of The National News' article covering Macklemore's show cancellation, alleging that the decision was related to the situation in Gaza because, at the time of writing The National News' article, the rapper had not commented on the cancellation of the show on his social media pages.
Macklemore Cancels Dubai Show Over U.A.E. Involvement in Sudan War
U.S. rapper Macklemore has canceled his upcoming October show in Dubai, U.A.E., citing the country's involvement in the deadly conflict in Sudan. In an Instagram post, Macklemore revealed that for months, people had urged him to cancel the concert in solidarity with the Sudanese people and to boycott doing business in the U.A.E. due to its reported role in the ongoing genocide and humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
As a main reason for canceling the show, Macklemore specifically pointed to the U.A.E.'s alleged support for Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been engaged in a brutal conflict with the Sudanese army.
In a lengthy Instagram statement, Macklemore explained that after careful thought, research, and extensive reading, he decided to cancel the Dubai show, revealing a simplified explanation.
He clarified that, despite various external forces contributing to the suffering of over ‘ten million’ displaced Sudanese and the loss of ‘150,000 lives,’ there is evidence that the U.A.E. is involved in funding the RSF militia, which has been a major factor in the ongoing conflict.
He further mentioned the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza during the ten months of the ongoing Israeli genocide, emphasizing that the oppression and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians have persisted for 76 years. These issues led the rapper to a state of introspection, questioning the world's state of affairs. He said, "The worlds fucked up, but I’m gonna get the bag. What difference can we individually make anyway?"
Moreover, the rapper cited the U.A.E.'s reported support for Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a motif to cancel the show in Dubai. He stated that he would not perform in the country until it ceases arming and inciting the genocide there. “I know that this will probably jeopardize my future shows in the area, and I truly hate letting any of my fans down,” he wrote. “I was really excited too. But until the U.A.E. stops arming and funding the RSF I will not perform there.”
Macklemore Expresses Solidarity with Gaza
Macklemore has expressed solidarity with Palestine on several occasions. He performed his pro-Palestine song "Hind’s Hall" in honor of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.
“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,” Macklemore said in front of a sellout crowd in New Zealand’s capital, Wellington.
The artist released the song on social media and YouTube, promising that all proceeds would be donated to the UN relief agency UNRWA.
In December 2023, Macklemore read a poem calling for a “Free Palestine” and criticized U.S. funding used in Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
During a recent concert in Leipzig, Germany, Macklemore spoke out against the oppression of protesters against the genocide in Gaza by German police. He condemned police actions, referencing videos from Berlin that showed police brutally attacking demonstrators, pushing women to the ground, and assaulting a 15-year-old child.
Sudan War Leaves Over 150,000 Dead and More Than 10 Million Displaced
After the 2021 coup, Sudan was governed by a council of generals led by two military figures central to the current conflict: Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the armed forces and effectively the country's president, and his deputy, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as "Hemedti," who leads the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The fighting began on April 15, 2023, after shooting erupted between the two sides following days of rising tension, triggered by the redeployment of RSF members across the country, which the army viewed as a threat. Although there had been some hope for talks to resolve the situation, these discussions never materialized.
According to the International Rescue Committee, the power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted into large-scale conflict in April 2023, significantly increasing humanitarian needs in the country. Conservative estimates suggest that the conflict has resulted in at least 15,500 deaths, while some estimates place the toll as high as 150,000 and counting.
Since April, over 10 million people have been internally displaced, and more than 2 million refugees have fled to neighboring countries. Currently, over half of the population, approximately 25 million people, are in need of humanitarian aid. The U.N. has warned that 222,000 children could die from malnutrition in the coming months.
Reports on U.A.E. Involvement in Sudan War
In June 2024, the Sudanese government accused the United Arab Emirates of fueling the war in Sudan by supplying weapons to a rival paramilitary force. The U.A.E. dismissed these allegations as “ludicrous,” describing them as a “shameful abuse” by one of the warring parties.
This clash came during a U.N. Security Council meeting, where Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee warned that atrocities are being committed along ethnic lines in Sudan’s western Darfur region.
Sudanese Ambassador Al-Harith Mohamed accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of destructively launching its war against the Sudanese military and attacking civilians, allegedly with the support of weapons from the U.A.E. He claimed that Sudan possesses evidence of the U.A.E. supplying arms and stated that the government plans to submit a file on the U.A.E.'s actions to the International Criminal Court. In response, U.A.E. Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab said the accusations were false.
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