Explaining that resurfaced video of Macklemore ‘mocking Jewish people’, and how he responded

Amid the ongoing fallout of Macklemore’s pro-Palestine comments that got him kicked off Ed Sheeran’s tour, people are once again talking about his “rabbi costume” that many saw as him “mocking Jewish people.”

Following a lengthy “Free Palestine” speech at one of Ed Sheeran’s shows, a billionaire in the US used his considerable resources to put pressure on the UK singer. He ultimately buckled, and Macklemore was removed from the tour. 

It sparked arguably the biggest story of the week as celebrities spoke out in support of Palestine; even Ed Sheeran’s own opening acts bailed on the tour. 

It’s typical, during a controversy such as this, for people to dig through the histories of those involved. Ed Sheeran’s political comments emerged after he claimed to be apolitical, and now people are talking about a controversial costume of Macklemore’s from 2014. 

Credit: YouTube

Where is the picture of ‘rabbi ‘ Macklemore actually from? 

On Twitter, people are once again discussing the viral moment that Macklemore seemingly dressed up as a stereotypical Jewish person, complete with a “hooked nose”, a wig, and a beard that made him look like a caricature of a rabbi. 

The moment itself came in 2014, when Macklemore performed at the EMP in Seattle. Within the context of everything going on, it has once again generated controversy.

The official Stop Antisemitism account wrote: “Reminder – Macklemore dressed up as an Orthodox Jew, wearing a massive prosthetic nose at a Seattle show. Macklemore doesn’t care about Palestinians. He just hates Jews.”

“The same Macklemore who dresses in Jew-face with a prosthetic hook nose and throws Nazi salutes?” another person responded to someone on Twitter. 

Credit: YouTube

In contrast, someone explained: “It’s such a trip that we’re all being asked to accept this photo as proof that Macklemore is some kind of high-octane Jew hater.

“I mean, if there had been other indications he hates Jews I could see it as part of that argument, but it’s literally this and nothing else. There’s him wearing a costume store witch’s nose as part of a disguise for a secret show in 2014, and then there’s him taking a position on the moral issue of our time in 2026. That’s it. That’s the whole entire argument.”

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He responded at the time 

When the backlash first emerged back in 2014, Macklemore added further context to the decision whilst apologising. 

On his website, he explained: “I respect all cultures and all people. I would never intentionally put down anybody for the fabric that makes them who they are. I love human beings, love originality and… happen to love a weird outfit from time to time.

A fake witches nose, wig, and beard = random costume. Not my idea of a stereotype of anybody.

— Macklemore (@macklemore) May 19, 2014

“I acknowledge how the costume could, within a context of stereotyping, be ascribed to a Jewish caricature. 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.”

He explained that he randomly chose the elements of the outfit in a bid to disguise himself and move around the secret show.

In a follow-up tweet, he also added: “A fake witches nose, wig, and beard = random costume. Not my idea of a stereotype of anybody.”

At the time, the Anti-Defamation League took Macklemore at his word and did not brand him an antisemite. 

A video from the performance can be viewed here: 

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Featured image credit: YouTube and SADAKA EDMOND/SIPA/Shutterstock