Macklemore’s well-acquainted with the controversy he’s stirring up in Oz

THE Grammy-award winning rapper who is currently stirring up Australia’s marriage equality debate has a history of pulling controversial stunts.

MACKLEMORE is set to make a serious splash this weekend in Australia for his NRL Grand Final performance on Sunday.

It’s no secret the Grammy award-winning rapper has a tendency to be a little controversial and now he’s stirring up waves in Oz.

The singer is set to perform this weekend but his award winning song, Same Love which he has confirmed he will perform, has caused a heated debate among NRL fans.

The performer has a history of stirring up controversy...

Macklemore has a history of pulling controversial stunts. Picture: Kevin Winter / Getty Images.

Questionable dress-ups

A very odd costume choice at his Experience Music Project performance in Seattle in 2014 upset quite a few people.

The artist, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, took to the stage to surprise his hometown for the special performance wearing a giant prosthetic hooked nose, a thick dark beard and a bowl cut wig.

Many saw his costume as an anti-Semitic Jewish caricature — and a surprising move for an artist who prides himself on being an outspoken equality advocate.

.@macklemore, first you trick people into thinking you're a rapper, now you trick them into thinking you're Jewish? pic.twitter.com/3rtaE4GHje

— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) May 18, 2014

Macklemore copped some serious backlash from fans and celebs alike, including Jewish actor Seth Rogen.

The rapper was reportedly shocked people had interpreted his outfit as offensive and tweeted what he thought would set the record straight.

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

— GEMINI (@macklemore) May 19, 2014

Several stars felt the rapper clearly needed to educate himself.

.@macklemore really?? Because if I told someone to put together an anti Semitic Jew costume, they'd have that exact shopping list.

— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) May 19, 2014

. @macklemore Make a 'random costum'e out of black shoe polish and a fake Afro. Oh, that's right...
At least own up to it, coward.

— Jim Norton (@JimNorton) May 20, 2014

@macklemore c'mon, Mack. Any educated person who knows history knows what that costume is, either run with the joke or retract but dont deny

— R.A. the Rugged Man (@RAtheRuggedMan) May 19, 2014

Following the outcry, Macklemore posted a lengthier apology on his blog, stating: “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.”

9/11 truther?

One tweet written by a pre-fame Macklemore in 2009 is still haunting the rapper - even though he’s yet to delete it. In the tweet, he suggests then-President George Bush was behind the 9/11 terror attacks:

911...bush knocked down the towers

— GEMINI (@macklemore) September 18, 2009

While some took it as a joke, others were absolutely baffled at his claim and many thought Macklemore had “lost the plot”.

“LAWLZ!! Grammy winner @macklemore is a tinfoil helmet wearing truther,” wrote one Twitter user.

Grammys backlash

Fans had a lot to say after the 2014 Grammy Awards, when Macklemore walked away with four trophies while critically acclaimed black rapper Kendrick Lamar scored zilch.

The controversy and backlash came after Macklemore screenshoted and shared a text message he’d sent to Lamar, which said in part: “It’s weird and it sucks that I robbed you.”

Even fellow rapper Drake weighed in on the matter.

He told Rolling Stone, “It felt cheap. It didn’t feel genuine. Why do that?”

“That sh*t was [whack] as f*ck,” Drake continued.

Marriage equality

The rapper is currently stirring a new storm in Australia due to his upcoming performance this weekend at the NRL Grand Final.

Macklemore’s being accused of politicising the game by performing his ARIA chart-topping hit, Same Love which is about LGBT rights and marriage equality. The 2012 single sold more than 280,000 copies in Australia.

Ex-NRL player Tony Wall has started a Change.org petition demanding the song be barred from the performance and to remove “LGBTIQ politics out of the awesome sport of Rugby League”.

Wall said it will be “very difficult to watch” and his family and many other loyal NRL fans will “not feel comfortable”.

Macklemore and wife Tricia Davis at the 56th Grammy Awards. Picture: Christopher Polk / Getty Images.

Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, commented on the debate and told Today, “It’s a question of respecting the artist.

“It’s one of his top songs, people expect him to play it. The NRL supports same-sex marriage what’s the problem?”

Originally published as Macklemore’s well-acquainted with the controversy he’s stirring up in Oz