US rapper Macklemore has denied accusations of antisemitism after he appeared to don a “fake Jew” outfit for a gig in Seattle.

He issued an apology on his website, insisting that he did not intend to insult Jewish people when he wore a black suit, wig, beard and large plastic nose.

There was widespread outrage when photographs of the concert were posted online.

The “Thrift Shop” star hit back on Twitter: “A fake witches nose, wig, and beard = random costume. Not my idea of a stereotype of anybody.”

Seth Rogen attacked Macklemore, tweeting: “If someone wanted to put together an antisemitic Jew costume, they’d have that exact shopping list”.

Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, put out a statement saying: “I wasn’t attempting to mimic any culture, nor resemble one.

"A ‘Jewish stereotype’ never crossed my mind. 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.

“I love human beings, love originality and happen to love a weird outfit from time to time.”