Grammy-winning US rapper Macklemore in strife over choice of fancy dress

Grammy-winning US rapper Macklemore has apologised to anyone offended by a fancy-dress costume that critics claimed was anti-Semitic.

One Jewish group called the row a "tempest in a teacup", but hailed the apology by the rapper.

Comedian Seth Rogen took to Twitter to denounce the costume, including a beard and a large hooked nose, worn by the musician at a concert last week.

"First you trick people into thinking you're a rapper, now you trick them into thinking you're Jewish?" said Rogen, who is Jewish.

Macklemore, who won four Grammys at this year's awards, issued a statement to say that the costume was not intended to represent any particular cultural stereotype.

Talking about Friday's costume stunt in Seattle, he said: "I thought it would be fun to dress up in a disguise and go incognito to the event ... I picked up a bunch of fake moustaches and beards and grabbed a left-over wig from our recent trip to Japan ... I personally thought I looked very ambiguous in terms of any 'type' of person."