Macklemore reunites with Motaz Azaiza
American rapper Macklemore met up with Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza in Qatar on Friday as the two geared up for the annual Match for Hope in Doha. "Guess who is here?" Motaz wrote under a reel shared to Instagram. The rapper wore a keffiyeh, surrounded by a small group.
"Macklemore with his Palestinian brothers and sisters who were evacuated from Gaza to Doha. Thank you, Ben, for your love and being on the right side of history. We'll never forget it," Motaz wrote. Taking to the comments section, the rapper - also known as Benjamin Hammond Haggerty - responded, "So much love brother. Thank you for having me."
The Match of Hope is a sports initiative involving football stars, celebrities, and influencers, who participate to raise money for education in Palestine, Sudan, Mali, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Pakistan, as per The Sun. An avid supporter of the Palestinian cause, Macklemore performed his 2024 song Hind's Hall.
The protest song was produced in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle against genocide. Through the lyrics, the 41-year-old rapper calls for a ceasefire as he lists the atrocities that Israel is subjecting Palestine to.
Motaz, who arrived early to the stadium, shared snippets of the performance on Instagram Stories. Ending the spam with a picture of the duo, he wrote, "Thank you for coming, dear Ben. Hopefully, one day I can bring you into Gaza." Before this reunion, the two last met in October.
From expressing his thoughts on social media to raising the flag during concerts, Macklemore has been consistently vocal about his support for Palestine. In September, he faced backlash for saying "f*** America" during a pro-Palestinian benefit concert held in Seattle.
Following up with a statement shared to Instagram, he wrote, "Unfortunately, the historic event in my hometown that brought thousands of people together to raise awareness and money for the people of Palestine has been overshadowed by two words."
The Thrift Shop singer clarified that his words don't always translate well and that he's prone to slipping up when caught up in the moment. However, he always strives to lead with love in order to bring people together.
"I wish I had been in a better place with my grief and anger. But the truth is, I'm not okay," he wrote. "I have been disillusioned and disheartened as our government has continued to unequivocally fund and support Israel's ongoing violence against the people of Palestine. I don't think I'm alone."
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