Macklemore hits Sydney for controversial Grand Final act

The NRL has made sure Macklemore feels right at home, filling his hotel room with an impressive stash of Aussie snacks after he flew in from LA to prepare for his controversial headline act at tomorrow’s NRL Grand Final.

• THE AFL AND NRL GRAND FINAL BAND WAR

FOUR-time Grammy Award winner Macklemore arrived in Sydney this morning from LA flanked by burly security staff to prepare for his controversial headline act at tomorrow’s NRL Grand Final.

Macklemore’s departure from America was delayed as debate continued to rage over the rapper’s appearance tomorrow at ANZ Stadium.

Macklemore arriving at Sydney International Airport this morning. Picture: Danny Aarons

The NRL has made sure Macklemore feels right at home in Sydney, filling his hotel room with an impressive stash of Aussie snacks.

“Yo the NRl hooked me up I got some Tim Tams, I got some Arnoits (sic), some Anzacs, some koalas, a hat, some jerseys. Let’s go, it’s time!” Mackelmore said on Instagram.

The Grammy Award winner shared an Insta Story of his trip, which included some passenger shaming of a fellow first class passenger on the plane and her “freddy krueger-ass toenails”.

He also revealed the stunning harbour view from his hotel room.

The rapper shows off his snacks. Picture: Instagram @macklemore

Let’s go, it’s time!” Macklemore said on Instalive post. Picture: Instagram @macklemore

Conservative commentators have hit out at the US star, who will perform his marriage equality anthem Same Love at ANZ Stadium on Sunday night, when Melbourne and North Queensland face off in the rugby league decider.

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said he did not regret choosing the rapper, labelling it one of the bravest decisions the league had made for pre-match entertainment.

The NRL and AFL have backed the yes campaign in the same-sex marriage postal survey.

MACKLEMORE’S LONG HISTORY OF CONTROVERSIES

Macklemore told a radio show in the US this week he had received “a lot of tweets from angry old white men” and vowed to “go harder” because of the furore. “Imma go harder, Imma love,” he told The Cruz Program.

The rapper poses for a fan at Sydney International Airport today. Picture: Danny Aarons

Macklemore was escorted through Sydney International Airport by security guards.

our-time Grammy-award winner Macklemore will perform at the NRL Grand Final

Former prime minister Tony Abbott and right-wing independent MP Bob Katter have slammed the NRL for inviting the rapper to perform at the grand final, saying footy fans should not be subjected to a politicised grand final.

Senior coalition figure George Brandis criticised Mr Abbott for his selective backing of free speech.

“For Mr Abbott and anyone else to say that it should be banned I think is a bizarre thing to say. I thought Mr Abbott believed in freedom of speech,” he told ABC TV on Thursday.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Same Love was one of the singer’s top songs and the NRL backed same-sex marriage.

“What’s the problem,” he told the Nine Network on Friday. “I look forward to it.”

Originally published as Macklemore hits Sydney for controversial Grand Final act