r/Music • u/TheMirrorUS 📰The Mirror US • Sep 14 '26

article Robert Kraft issues lengthy statement on Macklemore after rapper says NFL owner had him banned from

https://www.themirror.com/sport/american-football/robert-kraft-macklemore-sheeran-palestine-2024272
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u/boot2skull Sep 14 '26

Kanye literally supported Nazi ideology. Macklemore as far as I can read said free Palestine?

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u/SpyderSquash Sep 15 '26

He also specified that criticism of Israel is not criticism of our Jewish brothers and sisters, and promoted a message of peace and unity across the board. It was a very well-articulated, professional and kind speech tbh. I haven't seen the dude in the public eye in a long time, but this was a nice thing to see from him.

https://youtu.be/GslWD7ZcipY

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u/SideInitial3961 Sep 15 '26

He's 100% right. None of my jewish friend support the Israeli genocide.

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u/whatlineisitanyway Sep 15 '26

It shouldn't be controversial. Take all the people that scream anti-semitism at this and describe to them a Muslim state that is doing all the things that Israel is doing and I'm sure they would be outraged and be calling for intervention.

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u/FeloniousDrunk101 Sep 15 '26

I believe the only controversy is heavily manufactured by pro-Israeli propaganda.

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u/Zeal_of_Zebras 28d ago

And it massively backfired because Robert Kraft looks very pro genocide right now.

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u/Soft_Self_6797 Sep 16 '26

Bingo. That's entirely what it is. They no one likes being labeled as such so they thought everyone would just blindly follow without looking into any nuance.

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u/LurkLiggler 26d ago

It’s a genocide and horrible. And shouldn’t be controversial. Of course, who knows if you change the direction of the violence. At least with how these comments would be. You don’t see much hand wringing and concern over the other active genocides on the planet.

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u/cornypop123 27d ago

Um
 Israel is the only democratic state in the Middle East, oh and the only Jewish state in the world. There are 53 Muslim countries, many of which every single Jew has been ethnically cleansed from. And several currently offer zero rights for women and gay people

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u/OrganSlicer Sep 16 '26

Jew here. I am appalled at what's going on and given what happened to our people 80 years ago, it's bewildering to see a people get wiped out by the nation that was created from the ashes of this tragedy. It's beyond belief like how does Isreal not see the mirror?

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u/SideInitial3961 Sep 16 '26

I think your words sum up how most are feeling right now. I feel for you. I can't imagine how I would be feeling right trading places with you.

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u/Efficient_Smilodon 27d ago

you have not understood the mind of the mossad and the key puppeteers of the Israeli state at its inception. After ww2 they recognized that god had no interest in helping them nor ability or interest to stop a murderous nazi regime. they accepted that they would do everything and anything possible to create a safe space for Jews. Unfortunately for the Palestinians they were in the way. And they were also members of the same religious group that had been oppressing Jews for over 1300 years by violence. So, the choice was made: the ends justify the means, war by deception, do whatever is necessary. the suspicions about aipac, 9/11, kennedy assassination... it all seemed like conspiracy until you see the end result now, regarding who is really in power and pulling the strings in DC. plausible deniability is the art of espionage and spycraft, assassins and deep state diplomacy

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u/Fabulous-Educator447 27d ago

This is very educational and I appreciate the time you took. Question: did they come and take over this land and kick the people out who were living there?

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u/Efficient_Smilodon 27d ago

which group, lol. The Americans did it under the banner of manifest destiny, the prerogative of a god given right to take land from others not rated as full 'people' . They enslaved others, and broke contracts with others, and only recently allowed women and 'others' rights and voting rights, which are still circumscribed by disenfranchisement and other institutional means. Each group shares a few things in common, certainly. The 1948 land partition, while technically legal, was a prime example of how legality and morality are utterly divorced in practical reality across the globe. One group with more money and the force of violence at their disposal seems intent on ignoring the rights of an indigenous tenant class , whose own land-ownership was taken by force and economic status centuries ago

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u/apistograma Sep 15 '26

Nobody says that they support a genocide other than the ones that are clueless about optics like Ben Gvir. If you ask Netanyahu he'll say he's against genocides.

The issue is whether they support Israel existing or not. If they support it, they're supporting a genocide.

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u/SideInitial3961 Sep 15 '26

They do. But their concept of Israel existing does not match any of the reality of Israel today. They all seem to have fond memories of Israel it seems, family, culture, but none of them support what Israel has become AFAIK. I can't speak for them but that's the vibe I get.

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u/userhwon Sep 15 '26

Calling it genocide means you support Hamas' genocide of Israel.

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u/SideInitial3961 Sep 15 '26

No such thing is happening. Just a lie you spread.

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u/userhwon Sep 15 '26

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2023/10/hamas-covenant-israel-attack-war-genocide/675602/

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u/SideInitial3961 Sep 15 '26

Yeah, no. Notice when I posted it was from a jewish source. American opinions of actual facts don't interest me at all.

Also "intention" is a nice try to manipulate. Israel is killing kids today. Every day. Torturing them.

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u/BraveWarrior1011 Sep 16 '26

But Israel does support the genocide. Your friend doesn’t matter in the equation. He like everyone else are entitled to their opinion.

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u/SideInitial3961 Sep 16 '26

Not how it works. You want to math the math. Like if you can beat this guy and Jon Jones lost to him you can beat Jon Jones, nope. You can't. And my jewish friends fond memories of the Israel of their youth has no relationship whatsoever to supporting the bloodthirsty regime of today.

It's not about Israel not existing. It's about them co-existing.

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u/CanIGetAWhatsThat Sep 15 '26

Before or after October 7

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u/Legitimate_Ad_7822 Sep 15 '26

Here’s a guy that doesn’t understand this “conflict” has been going on for decades before October 7th.

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u/SideInitial3961 Sep 15 '26

Both. They view that as a complete manipulation. These are not stupid people, they are community and business leaders, you think they are that easily fooled?

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u/CanIGetAWhatsThat Sep 15 '26

I didn’t know their standings but a lot of people did not care about the Israel and Palestine conflict before oct 7.

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u/SpyderSquash Sep 15 '26

It's almost as if many people don't care about something that isn't well-reported until the situation continues to escalate, and becomes widely more reported with defining events...? And just like Israel and its actions are not a representation of all Jewish people, Hamas and their actions are not a representation of all Palestinian people.

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u/CanIGetAWhatsThat Sep 15 '26

It was known

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u/Augustus420 Sep 15 '26

This is basically a complaint about the linear flow of time and the fact that there's constantly people learning things for the first time.

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u/ickypedia Sep 16 '26

Look up how many Palestinians were killed by Israel that year prior to October 7th.

Not to mention the huge amounts of them locked up without legal recourse in Israel.

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u/Spiritual_Appeal_961 Sep 15 '26

It’s the message of peace and unity articulated in such an intelligent, compassionate and genuine way that is the real problem. That’s what got Bob Marley nearly assassinated during the Cold War, they even tried to get his music classified as sedition. Macklemore is no Bob ok but the intention and similarities can’t be ignored. Wouldn’t be surprised if this got him on the CIA watch list just like Bob was.

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u/playlistpro Sep 15 '26

That was good. When he said this next song is called...I was hoping for "Fuck Donald Trump"

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u/corpusjuris Sep 17 '26

Dude gets dragged for being lame but he’s always been vocal and articulate about what he believes in even when it costs him, and what he believes in has always been admirable (gay marriage, anti-war, pro Palestine, even local issues supporting musicians and venues). I’m a lifelong Seattleite, punkrock deadbeat, wannabe hipster type and I’ve always defended the dude. He’s good people.

Also the video for “The Town” is amazing and makes me tear up every time. The Source of Labor and RKCNDY shoutouts, my youth, man.

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u/Amazing_Scientist696 Sep 17 '26

I have 0 fucks to give about Macklemore and I have never enjoyed his music.

That said, 100% behind him and the music industry on this one. I hope all the "Industry Gods" get the fuck out of their bubble and say something too. Not like Marshall is going to loose shit by making a similar statement.

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u/Moist_Syrup_2772 Sep 15 '26

I’m trying to recall the last time I heard an anti-Semite talk about his Jewish brothers and sisters.

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u/freelancephilosophy Sep 15 '26

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u/Upper_Raspberry1 Sep 15 '26

He apologized for this

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u/gupdaddy Sep 15 '26

And his apology was bs "unfortunately at the time I did not foresee the costume to be viewed in such regard"

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u/daidrian Sep 15 '26

What about that is bs? Seems like admitting to ignorance. I could be missing something though

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u/gupdaddy Sep 15 '26

" i just wore blackface, i didnt know it would be viewed poorly!" Doesn't that sound ridiculous?

Even if you give him the benefit of the doubt - a huge benefit. Someone that knows so little about the jewish people that he didnt consider that this would be offensive to jewish people probably shouldn't be the spokes person against the only jewish nation in the world.

He speaks of no nuance or historical understanding. He shouts buzzword/catch-phrases to gain popularity and free publicity. Hes also not just saying something once or talking answering some interview question, its basically now his schtick, his reason to be famous beyond an overhyped/overrated 2014 album.

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u/Sansundertale2069 Sep 15 '26

You don't need to be an expert on Jewish people or whatever that means to be against a genocide. There is no nuance in this situation, there is the Israelis that came in, stole land, massacred the inhabitants and continue to do so to this day. It is morally a very simple situation

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u/freelancephilosophy Sep 15 '26

“There is no nuance in the situation yet I have to lie about what happened”.

Generally valid arguments don’t contain lies. Generally positions worth defending can rely on the truth.

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u/freelancephilosophy Sep 15 '26

Ooooooh ok. Not an antisemite so, carry on!

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u/[deleted] Sep 17 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/freelancephilosophy 29d ago

Have you considered

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u/Spiritual_Appeal_961 27d ago

Hey stated that he grabbed a nose beard and wig randomly at a costume shop so he could move freely about the crowd for a secret show and when called out immediately took accountability for how this could have been perceived and apologized for his actions. That is not the actions of a malicious person. It takes integrity and empathy to acknowledge when you’ve done something wrong, apologize and correct your behavior. Every human being deserves that kind of grace when they make a mistake and respond accordingly. Take pink for example she did the opposite, doubling down on her words and actions, that’s a lot harder to respect for me personally.

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u/ItAintLongButItsThin Sep 14 '26

He also brought attention to the horrors that have been happening and thats a big no no.

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u/Ok_Instance7667 Sep 15 '26

"If a genocide happens and nobody is there to witness it, does it count?"

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u/palmerry Sep 15 '26

(giant Sequoia slams to the ground)

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u/TheDryIceFactory Sep 15 '26

As long as you did Nazi it

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u/bloody_ell 29d ago

"If a genocide happens and you kill or silence all witnesses and censor it out of the history books, it's still genocide"

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u/Fupastank Sep 14 '26

Nazi ideology helps drive home the propaganda that “Israel is the only safe place”. So that’s ok in the Hasbara play book.

Saying free Palestine is the real crux of the issue. They dont want that.

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u/Jazzlike_Finish123 Sep 14 '26

This.  One makes them sympathetic and the other makes them the aggressor.

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u/Dependent_Eye_6361 Sep 15 '26

That's exactly it. Kanye provides not just a fundraising opportunity for Israeli pacs, but also a clear and present danger that can be pointed to for why moving to and investing in Israel is the only safe thing. Macklemore saying Free Palestine just exposes Ed Sheeran's 12-year-old fanbase to things like empathy and understanding, and people like Robert Kraft can't have that.

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u/burnetrosehip Sep 16 '26

I guess Mackelmore's added "free Cuba" and calling ICE a terrorist organisation put him firmly on a place on the political map in the US. Respect to the guy, is all I'll say.

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u/MostHolyAndCromulant Sep 15 '26

That and Israel is allowed to openly run an Ethno-supremacist apartheid state, and all the Nazi's really love that idea.

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u/7thpostman Sep 15 '26

There is nothing in this debate that makes someone sound less educated than using the word "hasbara"

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u/Sansundertale2069 Sep 15 '26

"Using a relevant term makes u sound dumb actually"

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u/7thpostman Sep 15 '26

Yeah. It does. "I saw this on the internet and Zi started repeating it because I think it makes me look smart"

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u/inqte1 Sep 15 '26

Yes. There is a reason literally every right wing idiot turned anti Israel in almost methodical unison. Initially I thought "weird" but when I saw Dan Bilzerian go on that schtick, I knew what it was.

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u/MoneyTalks45 Sep 15 '26

If you support Nazi ideology, you’re a Nazi. We need to stop pussyfooting around it.

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u/Kaldricus Sep 15 '26

That's my favorite* bit of Republicans support of Israel. A non-insignificant number of them love Nazi's and/or believe the Holocaust didn't happen. These are diametrically opposed views, and yet....

*Favorite meaning would be funny if everything wasn't so fucked up

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u/Gonnagetbant Sep 16 '26

Because it’s never been about antisemitism, it’s always been about protecting Bibi

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u/donkeyrocket Sep 14 '26

Kayne still prints cash and has an extremely rabid fanbase that doesn't care about his mental health issues or Nazism. Not saying it's right but being an abhorrent person is less controversial than offending Israel. And right now acknowledging the existence of Palestine seems more offensive than the ideology behind the near genocide of their people.

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u/Enlightened_D Sep 15 '26

Don’t forget his website where he sold tshirts with giant swastika on them

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u/YoungAntiSocialite Sep 15 '26

Kanye’s the whole bill, macklemores an opener, easier target.

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u/toggiz_the_elder Sep 15 '26

The founders of Israel didn’t say never again to genocide. They said never again to us.

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u/Kellyco5 Sep 15 '26

What is free Palestine? If that entails dissolving the the Jewish state for the Palestinians, then it has no place at a music concert where it should be inclusive for all. A lot of dumb people who say free Palestine, that’s what they mean

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u/boot2skull Sep 15 '26

Seems unfair to put words in anyone’s mouth without letting them clarify. Why not let Macklemore clarify his stance before cancelling him

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u/[deleted] Sep 15 '26

[deleted]

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u/carrboneous Sep 15 '26

Multiple Israeli public officials have quoted Hitler publicly no less

Do you have some examples?

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u/[deleted] Sep 16 '26

[deleted]

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u/carrboneous Sep 16 '26

You're making it sound like they're quoting Nazis approvingly, but in at least most of those examples they were quoting them in a critical sense. You're also making it sound like the comments were received positively, when by your own accounts they were not.

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u/zaxxman Sep 15 '26

Tbf Kanye is basically a clown these days and I don’t think anyone takes him seriously but saying free Palestine is a real topic with weight. I obviously don’t agree with Kraft but I don’t expect sane people to say the things coming out of Kanye’s mouth

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u/HeadintheSand69 Sep 15 '26

Cause no one gives a shit about 'jews', they care about a shitty government that probably has video of them fucking kids. Shrimple as

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u/TheLegendinho Sep 15 '26

And Kanye didn't even make thrift store! /s

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u/magistrate101 Sep 15 '26

Yeah but Ye was somehow smart enough to include a clause in his contract forbidding anyone from dropping him over the things he said/says.

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u/GTS_84 Sep 15 '26

Exactly. The Fascists have solidarity with each other, and solidarity against the victims of their fascism.

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u/no_com_ment Sep 16 '26

Tbf, a lot of that nasty ideology is popular in Israel. Just look at what Smotrich and Ben Gvir say.

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u/Mucking_Fountain Sep 16 '26

Kanye is a Republican, though. They don’t actually care about anything, as long as it’s from their side. Owning the Libs is their only MO for living.

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u/mavs91 28d ago

Tells you all you need to know. It was never really about antisemitism. All that bs antisemitism campaign ads they ran during the Super Bowl was just cover for Israel.đŸ‡źđŸ‡±

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u/ZedisonSamZ Sep 14 '26

He also wore this “witch costume”.

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u/soxpats111 Sep 14 '26

Dig a little deeper on Macklemore's history of anti semitism. Check out the "costume" he wore on stage.

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u/renegadecanuck Sep 14 '26

If the costume was the issue, he would have been barred long before the Free Palestine comments. It's just being used as fodder to justify going after what Macklemore said.

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u/ZedisonSamZ Sep 14 '26 edited Sep 14 '26

There are many artists who are proudly pro-Palestinian and anti-genocide. There’s something more here.

Nah he halfpologized for his “witch” nose and his reps sighed with relief that pop culture has the attention spans of split atoms. This is just coming back into the spotlight again because it is relevant
 a specific chicken coming home to roost, invited by someone (granted possibly evil himself) who can pull heavy strings, who obviously got a not-unreasonable impression that Macklemore is not solely for a Free Palestine for Palestinians sakes.

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u/renegadecanuck Sep 15 '26

Yeah there are many artists. And they all end up getting attacked as antisemites, no matter how weak the attacks are

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u/MegaDerppp Sep 14 '26

His apology was a non apology. It was a "sorry you feel that way" with a very transparent, bad excuse that it was all a random costume and all a big coincidence. Apologies are about accepting responsibility, he ducked that.

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u/VerseChorusWumbo Sep 14 '26

This was his apology, by the way (copied from a comment right below yours in the thread, lol):

“You mean the costume that was literally random props his team had available? That he apologized for when people expressed to him it was anti-semitic? And then he donated to the ADL (the organization formed to combat anti semitism)? And still, to this day, is a cause he champions on his website?

:"I acknowledge how the costume could, within a context of stereotyping, be ascribed to a Jewish caricature," he wrote.

"I am here to say that it was absolutely not my intention and unfortunately at the time I did not foresee the costume to be viewed in such regard."

The musician added: "I'm saddened that this story, or any of my choices, would lead to any form of negativity."

And this was in 2014......by the way.”

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u/MegaDerppp Sep 15 '26

Re-read it again slowly. Hes not taking responsibility for what he clearly did. If you think that was random, then theres not much more to say to you, and ni offense to you here but that would make you extremely sheltered and naive, especially if youre from any minorities that get charicatured. Imagine someone wore essentially a minstrel costume and his apology to the black community was not i ahouldnt have done that and im sorry but rather that was just an unfortunate coincidence and im sorry that offended you. Do you recognize the difference? Its almoat worse

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u/ZedisonSamZ Sep 15 '26

Notice these fucking losers excuse it as a ‘temporal issue’ instead of a morality failure in which Macklemore was a straight up racist piece of shit for the giggles.

“tWeLvE yEaRs aGo!!1!!”

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u/ZedisonSamZ Sep 15 '26 edited Sep 15 '26

Yeah that sounds like a really fucking fake concoction dreamed up by his reps to me. You’re trying to tell me this was the only costume props they had and this loser didn’t merely make a beeline for the beard and huge nose and giggle like a dipshit with his entourage that he looks like a Nazi propaganda poster?

Gtfo of here lol

I’d probably put the ADL link on my website too if my mask slipped that bad. Big fucking ‘whoopsie’, no doubt.

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u/VerseChorusWumbo Sep 15 '26

The ADL forgave him for it too. So there’s that.

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u/ZedisonSamZ Sep 15 '26 edited Sep 15 '26

Yeah he gave them money, no shit lol. Devil’s deal to serve the broader good. That “my reps are making me apologize” money spends just as good as any other.

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u/[deleted] Sep 14 '26

[deleted]

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u/greeneyedkyle Sep 14 '26

The costume he was forgiven by the ADL for wearing? That one?

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u/tehbantho Sep 14 '26

You mean the costume that was literally random props his team had available? That he apologized for when people expressed to him it was anti-semitic? And then he donated to the ADL (the organization formed to combat anti semitism)? And still, to this day, is a cause he champions on his website?

:"I acknowledge how the costume could, within a context of stereotyping, be ascribed to a Jewish caricature," he wrote.

"I am here to say that it was absolutely not my intention and unfortunately at the time I did not foresee the costume to be viewed in such regard."

The musician added: "I'm saddened that this story, or any of my choices, would lead to any form of negativity."

And this was in 2014......by the way.

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u/T1Demon Sep 14 '26

This is what an apology from someone who actually feels remorse sounds like. Not some PR crafted non-apology

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u/MrFallman117 Sep 14 '26

random props

Lol, it was full on jew-face. Nothing random about it. And your excuses of it isnt random either. 

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u/cockboy_trillionaire Sep 14 '26

Robert these bots aren’t convincing you gotta use a better model

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u/soxpats111 Sep 14 '26

Oh yeah, I'm sure it was totally innocent. Give me a break. Have you SEEN the costume? It's abhorrent. If this was against any other marginalized group, this would be completely unacceptable. Your bias is showing. If you think this scumbag with a history of abhorrent statements and actions is coming from a place of goodness in his heart, then you need to wake up.

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u/[deleted] Sep 14 '26

[deleted]

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u/soxpats111 Sep 14 '26

I don't even know what your point is. Macklemore is awful. Kanye is worse. Neither is playing Gillette Stadium.

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u/greenline_chi Sep 14 '26

Kanye is playing AT&T and they were one of the ones who said Ed couldn’t play if Macklemore was still on tour

Tampa too I believe

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u/soxpats111 Sep 14 '26

Shame on AT&T. Can't say I'm surprised Jerry Jones is looking to make a buck above all else. But neither is playing Gillette.

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u/greenline_chi Sep 14 '26

Why wasn’t he ok with making a buck on a tour Macklemore was a part of?

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u/[deleted] Sep 14 '26

[deleted]

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u/soxpats111 Sep 14 '26

And you are defending bigots

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u/tehbantho Sep 14 '26

Get outta here. Your bias is showing if you think you own the style he "mocked" belongs only to Jewish people. I have the biggest nose on earth. Not Jewish. I had the exact same haircut growing up. Still not Jewish. Beard? Same beard as an adult.

Am I anti semitic because I exist? Is that what you're suggesting?

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u/soxpats111 Sep 14 '26

Well played

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u/mseg09 Sep 14 '26

What's the "history" of statements and actions? You used the plural, go ahead and prove it

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u/cockboy_trillionaire Sep 14 '26

Robert try astra please it will look more realistic 

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u/BurnCannons Sep 14 '26

I had to look it up myself to see. Unfortunately, you’re 100% correct lmao

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u/TrumpHasCovid Sep 14 '26

Go read more. Macklemore has a history of Jew hatred and I personally consider him a viral antisemite.

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u/Whatachooch Sep 14 '26

Is the history just the costume or are you going to come with something that hasn’t been posted 1000x?