<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3yjNip_0viVFD7H00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3yjNip_0viVFD7H00" width="1500" height="844" >SEATTLE — More fallout for Seattle Rapper Macklemore.The Seattle Mariners are now joining the Seattle Kraken and Seattle Sounders FC, taking issue with Macklemore's controversial comments Saturday at a pro-Palestinian event in Seattle.In a statement to KOMO News, the Seattle Mariner's Vice President of Communications, Tim Hevly, writes:<blockquote>We are aware of the incident and agree with the other teams in town: Sports and music should connect, not divide us. We continue to monitor and research the latest developments.</blockquote>One of Macklemore's hit songs is often regularly played during the 7th inning stretch at Mariners home games at T-Mobile Park. The 41-year-old was captured on video saying 'F**k America' while on stage Saturday in Seattle's Seward Park.<div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zveKDMfXZRc?si=0xp01FG50JtQMmay" frameborder="0" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div>Cam Higby with Today is America captured the moment on camera and posted it online. The video went viral and triggered a firestorm of debate and reaction online. Higby's video doesn't capture what happened before the expletive comment now circulating on social media."Straight up, say it, I'm not gonna stop you. I’m not gonna stop you. Um, yeah, F*** America," Macklemore said.Tuesday Higby told KOMO News he got to the event late, but he was there before the expletive comment and said the musician was frustrated about a friend allegedly being detained at Sea-Tac airport for hours."I just missed it when I was recording, but he was talking about his friend getting held up in the airport for 16 hours with security allegedly," Higby said. Higby said the crowd burst into thunderous applause and cheers after the profanity."I think they were surprised happily. They didn't expect to hear that come from such a big celebrity but were thoroughly happy."On Monday, the Kraken and Sounders released the following statement:<blockquote>We believe that sports bring people together and unite us. We are aware of Macklemore’s increasingly divisive comments, and they do not reflect the values of our respective ownership groups, leagues, or organizations. We are currently evaluating our collective options on this matter.</blockquote>KOMO News reached out to Macklemore's representatives Tuesday but did not immediately receive a response. The Grammy award-winning rapper is a minority investor in the Kraken and Sounders.Also on Tuesday, the Neon Music Festival in Las Vegas announced in a news release that Macklemore would no longer be a headliner at their Inaugural festival in November. The release cited 'unforeseen circumstances.'On video captured from the event, Macklemore told the crowd, which Higby estimated was about 300 people, that he would continue to be a vocal supporter of Palestine. Last December, during a sold-out show in Seattle, he spoke on stage at Climate Pledge Arena about the war in Gaza.He's been vocal over the war in Gaza ever since, slamming America for not taking a stronger stance.He stood with pro-Palestinian protesters outside the Academy Awards in March, and in May, he released Hind's Hall - the song praises college students for their protests and denounces the U.S.'s role in the conflict. He told Saturday's festival attendees that he chose to speak about it and post about what he was seeing. He said once you see enough, you can't turn back."We must advocate for the most marginalized. We will not rest until we are all free from the river to the sea," Macklemore could be heard telling the Seattle crowd Seattle on video captured by Brooklen Weekley, who attended.Regina Sassoon Friedland, Regional Director of the Seattle American Jewish Committee, took exception to that in an interview with KOMO News on Monday. She said she'd be willing to meet with him 'to give him a different perspective.'"I do think when you say, 'the river to the sea,' he knows what he's saying. It is to eradicate the state of Israel," said Sassoon Friedland.</div></body>

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Seattle Mariners join backlash against Macklemore after controversial remarks

SEATTLE — More fallout for Seattle Rapper Macklemore. The Seattle Mariners are now joining the Seattle Kraken and Seattle Sounders FC, taking issue with Macklemore's controversial comments Saturday at a pro-Palestinian event in Seattle. In a statement to KOMO News, the Seattle Mariner's Vice President of Communications, Tim Hevly,...