Macklemore hits back at ‘angry, old white dudes in Australia’ who oppose equal marriage
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Macklemore has hit back at attempts by “angry, old white dudes” to stop him playing his same-sex marriage anthem at an Australian sports final.
The US rapper has been asked to play the half-time show at the National Rugby League Grand Final this Sunday, in front of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce.
His four-track set will include Same Love, which was adopted as an unofficial anthem for American same-sex marriage supporters.
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As the Australian postal vote on same-sex marriage continues, former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has spoken out in opposition to Macklemore’s performance.
Abbott, who was booed during his appearance at the final in 2014, wrote on Twitter: “Footy fans shouldn’t be subjected to a politicised grand final. Sport is sport!”
Abbott has repeatedly spoken out against same-sex marriage in recent years.
Last month, he claimed it would be “best” for his gay sister’s kids to be raised by a straight couple.
In an interview with US radio station POWER 106, Macklemore refused to back down in the face of this kind of hate.
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He said: “I’m getting a lot of tweets from angry, old white dudes in Australia.
“Today I think there is a petition to ban me from playing it,” he added.
There is indeed a petition on change.org, which has attracted more than 12,000 signatures, to “remove LGBTIQ politics out of the awesome sport of Rugby League.”
It was started by former NRL player Tony Wall, who wrote: “It will be very difficult to watch the NRL Grand Final with my wife and five young children as the event will be heavily politicised with a LGBTIQ anthem taking centre stage.
“My family and many other loyal NRL fans, who are No voters, will not feel comfortable watching the Grand Final when the NRL is imposing such a bold political stance on its fans while the issue is currently being voted on by the Australian people.”
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In response to all of this opposition, Macklemore simply said: “I’mma go harder.”
Earlier this week, Abbott’s own daughter Frances Abbott appeared in an advert for the Yes campaign.
“You can’t help who you fall in love with,” she said in the advert.
“Love just happens sometimes and it’s unexpected and that’s kind of what’s the awesome thing about it.”
