New York, NY, May 20, 2014 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today said it “accepted Macklemore at his word” that the rapper had no ill-intent when he donned a costume that seemed to evoke an anti-Semitic stereotype during an appearance at a concert in Seattle last week.
The costume, which included a dark beard, a large hook-nose and a black jacket, reminded many people of the stereotype of the greedy hook-nosed Jew, which was popularized in anti-Semitic caricatures in Germany during the Nazi era. Macklemore apologized for the costume in an online post to his fans.
Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director and a Holocaust survivor, issued the following statement:
We welcome Macklemore’s apology for wearing a costume that, regardless of his motives, reminded many people of an anti-Semitic caricature. We take him at his word that he did not have any ill-intent and unreservedly accept his apology.
We know that Macklemore is someone who has used his platform in the past to stand up and speak out against intolerance and bigotry, particularly homophobia. With that in mind we believe that this matter is little more than ‘a tempest in a teapot’ over an unfortunate choice of wardrobe.