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It's not just America grappling with sports and politics.

Macklemore is facing criticism in Australia for his plan to perform his 2013 song "Same Love" at the National Rugby League (NRL) grand final on Saturday. It's the country's largest event, equivalent to the Super Bowl, for Rugby League.

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The choice of song has vexed conservative commentators. Tony Abbott, the country's former prime minister, tweeted about a petition concerned about the "LGBTIQ anthem taking centre stage" at the event.

"Footy fans shouldn't be subjected to a politicised grand final. Sport is sport!" Abbott tweeted on Wednesday.

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Of course, "Same Love" touches on the issue of same-sex marriage, which the country is currently participating in a very expensive postal survey on. Before his trip Down Under, Macklemore hit back at the complaints.

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"It's interesting actually, because I'm playing 'Same Love,' and they're going through right now trying to legalise same-sex marriage in Australia," he told The Cruz Showon Wednesday.

Tweet may have been deleted

"So I'm getting a lot of tweets from angry old white dudes in Australia. I think there was a petition today to ban me from playing it. So it's interesting times in Australia ... Imma go harder, imma love."

Despite the opposition, the NRL remained firm on its choice of Macklemore to perform "Same Love" at the grand final.

"Macklemore was chosen as the Grand Final act because he is currently one of the top acts in the world," a spokesman told the ABC.

"The response from fans has been overwhelmingly positive, many young people are coming to the Grand Final just to see him. Naturally he will be performing his number one hits on Sunday, the fans would not expect anything less."

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