At Seattle’s Experience Music Project, rapper 30-year-old Macklemore performed in a suit, wig, beard and prosthetic nose. He has received criticism from those who say his costume resembled a Jewish stereotype.
Since his performance on May 16, Macklemore has become the center of a social-media controversy. He has received much criticism for his choice of costume on Twitter. Jewish actor Seth Rogan directly tweeted at Macklemore in disgust, “First you trick people into thinking you’re a rapper, now you trick them into thinking you’re Jewish?” The Jerusalem Post.
Macklemore has since addressed the issue on his own twitter. On Sunday he tweeted, “A fake witches nose, wig, and bear = random costume. Not my idea of a stereotype of anybody,” NY Daily News.
Perhaps Macklemore has received such harsh criticism because much of his music expresses support of equality and same love for all. Although he hasn’t quite taken responsibility for the incident, he has certainly expressed that representing a Jewish stereotype was not his intention.