Macklemore got himself in some hot water on Friday night in Seattle after performing while wearing a costume that many people felt mocked Jewish stereotypes.
The Daily Dot, among others, criticized Macklemore for his outfit, which turned the rap star into what the site called "some kind of Jewish caricature, prosthetic schnozz included."
Even Seth Rogen commented on Macklemore's choice of wardrobe.
During the performance, which was part of the opening of an exhibit at Seattle's EMP Museum called "Spectacle: The Music Video," Macklemore made no reference to the meaning behind his costume.
Once the story picked up steam on sites such as The Daily Dot and BuzzFeed, however, the rapper did comment on the controversy via his Twitter account.
After Macklemore made that comment on Twitter, Rogen replied with a remark of his own:
UPDATE, May 20: In a lengthy note on his website, Macklemore wrote that he apologized "to anybody that I may have offended" with the costume.
My intention was to dress up and surprise the people at the show with a random costume and nothing more. Thus, it was surprising and disappointing that the images of a disguise were sensationalized leading to the immediate assertion that my costume was anti-Semetic. 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. I’m saddened that this story, or any of my choices, would lead to any form of negativity.
[via The Daily Dot]
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