Macklemore says he was dropped from Ed Sheeran tour after Patriots owner Robert Kraft organized boycott NBC News Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran Tour After Onstage 'Free Palestine' Statements Rolling Stone Pink Explai...
The "Thrift Shop" rapper posted a lengthy statement to his Instagram on Monday alleging that Sheeran was called by Kraft to inform the singer Macklemore was not welcome at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Sheeran's tour was scheduled to play at the venue, which is owned by Kraft Entertainment + Sports Group.
"Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues," Macklemore wrote.
The decision was reached after comments made by Macklemore at the tour's New Jersey shows and "a broader history of rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community," Kraft said in a statement provided to NBC News on Monday.
Gillette Stadium seeks to create a "welcoming environment for all guests," he added.
"I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same - peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate," Kraft said.
He added that that the decision was not about trying to stifle Palestinian advocacy or diminishing the suffering of Palestinians. Kraft blamed Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, for the actions that "have caused immeasurable suffering for Palestinians and Israelis alike."
"Much of my time and attention for the last decade has been focused on the fight against antisemitism and hate of all kinds, and I feel a responsibility to stand up when I believe that line has been crossed," Kraft said.
Kraft, who is Jewish, created the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism in 2019 and is a longtime supporter of Israel. There is a page dedicated to his Israel-related philanthropic efforts on the Kraft Group's site.
"The Kraft family has supported and launched numerous programs that create a connection to Israel and Jewish life," the site said. "Their commitment has helped build a robust economic relationship between Boston and Israel, the results of which have created jobs and fostered technological innovations in both communities."
Macklemore added that Sheeran, who he described as a friend, was in a "f---ed up position." The two have had "difficult" conversations over the past week, according to Macklemore, that ended in a place of "fundamental disagreement."
"He told me that the words 'Free Palestine' and the image of the Palestinian flags were hurtful to a lot of people he spoke with," Macklemore wrote. "I told him that if those words were more offensive than the tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a fundamental disconnect between where those people stood and where I stood."
According to Macklemore's account, Sheeran was not able to get past his desire to remain an apolitical public figure.
Macklemore has been deeply outspoken about social and political issues throughout his career, releasing the song 2012 song "Same Love" in support of same-sex marriage three years before it was legalized in a Supreme Court decision. He released a song called "Hind's Hall" in 2024 , referencing an anti-war protest at Columbia University in which students took over a building and renamed in honor of 6-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza.
"The problem isn't the protests, it's what they're protesting," the song lyrics say. "It goes against what our country is funding."
He performed the song while opening for Sheeran at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month. According to video posted by Macklemore, he told the crowd that part of why he wanted to be on the tour was to be able to be in stadiums to say "Free Palestine."
Reporting synthesized and verified under Nexvoro.tech editorial guidelines. Full primary records referenced via Google News US Entertainment.
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