The Gillette Stadium owner, who barred rapper Macklemore from Ed Sheeran’s US tour over pro-Palestinian remarks, says the singer personally requested he commit $2m towards humanitarian aid before Macklemore issued a public challenge to match his own donation.
Robert Kraft, the American businessman who ordered Macklemore removed as Ed Sheeran’s opening act, has said Sheeran personally asked him to commit $2m (£1.5m) towards humanitarian aid in the Middle East. The claim, made by Kraft on Wednesday, follows a public pledge from Macklemore to donate $1m (£750,000) to Palestinian organisations, in which the rapper challenged Kraft to match the sum. Kraft, who owns the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, is at the centre of a growing controversy over Sheeran’s tour after banning Macklemore from performing at several venues.
Kraft’s latest statement on the donation
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Kraft wrote: “Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis.” He added: “Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges.” Kraft did not confirm whether he had agreed to make the donation, nor did he specify where any funds would be directed. It is understood this is the first time a $2m donation from Sheeran has been suggested, and the singer has not commented on the claim or on any philanthropic plans of his own.
Background to the Macklemore controversy
The statement marks Kraft’s second intervention this week in the row surrounding Sheeran’s US tour. On Monday, Kraft, who is Jewish, confirmed he had banned Macklemore from performing during Sheeran’s upcoming shows at Gillette Stadium near Boston, accusing the rapper of hate speech during two previous support slots. During those performances, Macklemore had called for “free Palestine” on stage, displayed images of Gaza, and performed a song dedicated to pro-Palestinian protesters, in which he referred to “genocide” in Gaza – a characterisation rejected by Israel. Macklemore has also said his criticism of Israel was not intended as criticism of “my Jewish brothers and sisters.”
Macklemore was dropped from the tour on Monday, a decision that prompted several other support acts to withdraw in protest. Sheeran has said the call to remove the rapper was made by his promoters, Messina Touring Group, rather than by him personally. The promoters said Macklemore’s removal was necessary because certain venues, including Kraft’s Gillette Stadium, would have refused to host the shows had he remained on the bill, which would have forced the cancellation of the tour entirely.
Sheeran responds to criticism
Sheeran, who performed at Kraft’s wedding in 2022, has faced criticism from some quarters over his apparent acceptance of the decision. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the singer said he respects “Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes,” and added that while he does not use his own platform for political statements, that “doesn’t mean I don’t care” or “support causes in my own, personal way.” Sheeran said he did not want to disappoint fans or his touring crew by cancelling the tour, which is due to resume in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.
Some artists, including Billy Bragg, have called on Sheeran to cancel the tour altogether in solidarity with Macklemore, though doing so could leave the singer and his promoters liable for substantial costs, including venue hire and ticket refunds. Sheeran is able to continue performing as a solo act, although his set will need to be reconfigured following the departure of Irish folk band Beoga, who had previously accompanied him on several songs.
Kraft defends his record on Palestinian causes
In his latest statement, issued through Gillette Stadium, Kraft said he wanted those speaking in support of the Palestinian people to know that he has “supported efforts that create opportunity for Palestinians.” He said he had worked to bring “young Palestinians and Israelis together to build businesses, create jobs, and forge relationships,” adding: “I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting.”
The billionaire, who owns the Kraft Group sports and event management company, did not confirm whether he had encouraged other stadium owners to ban Macklemore from their venues, as the rapper has claimed. Kraft has separately accused the Grammy-winning rapper of having “a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric,” an allegation Macklemore denies, and said the rapper had been “only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas.”
Other artists withdraw in protest
Alongside Beoga, several other acts have withdrawn from Sheeran’s US tour in solidarity with Macklemore, including Finneas, brother of pop star Billie Eilish, Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, and Danish band Lukas Graham. The artists have argued that Macklemore’s removal represents a chilling effect on free speech. Separately, Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio said it had dropped Sheeran’s music from its playlists in response to “the reaction from our listeners” following the decision to remove Macklemore from the tour.
Macklemore confirms donation plans
On Wednesday, Macklemore said he would donate the full $1m of his net earnings from Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six Palestinian organisations, saying the move was intended “to bring the conversation back to where it belongs: to the Palestinian people.” Writing on social media, he said: “This is a manmade injustice, and I believe it requires immediate political change.”
