Despite the controversial lead-up to Macklemore's performance at the NRL grand final, it finished with one simple message: equality for all.
The US rapper found himself at the centre of Australia's gay marriage debate after backlash from former prime minister Tony Abbott and conservative commentators unhappy about him performing the marriage equality anthem Same Love at Sunday's season decider in Sydney.
To a screaming crowd at ANZ Stadium, Macklemore performed Same Love with a simple sentence at the end before moving onto his next song.
"Equality for all," he said.
In a sign of the NRL's support for marriage equality, the big screens at the stadium displayed the words "We stand for diversity," "We stand for inclusiveness" and "We stand for equality" during the Same Love performance.
His performance was accompanied by plenty of cheers and a high-five from North Queensland Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston as he entered the stadium.
Criticism for the NRL's choice of pre-game entertainment was led by Mr Abbott and right-wing independent MP Bob Katter who slammed the NRL for inviting the rapper to perform, saying footy fans should not be subjected to a politicised grand final.
Macklemore sang four of his hits including Thrift Shop, Downtown, Glorious and Can't Hold Us to the near-80,000 strong crowd, the Nine Network reported.
