ABSTRACT

Rapper Macklemore said he would donate the entire $1 million in net earnings from his appearances on Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour to six organizations supporting Palestinians, and invited New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to match the sum, in a statement posted to Instagram. Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium, said in a statement shared through the stadium's account that he had agreed to commit $2 million to match a donation by Sheeran "to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis," and that Sheeran had called him earlier that day, before Macklemore issued his challenge. Both statements followed Macklemore's removal from Sheeran's tour over pro-Palestinian remarks delivered onstage at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, and came as every other supporting act on the tour announced it was pulling out.

The Guardian US

Macklemore pledges $1m to Palestinian groups as Kraft announces $2m donation

Sep 17, 2026, 9:14 AM

Context

Macklemore said he had been removed from Sheeran's tour in an Instagram post on Monday, alleging that Kraft had called Sheeran and that other stadium owners, rallied by Kraft, had told the singer he would not be allowed to play their venues if Macklemore stayed on the bill, according to Boston.com. Kraft said in an initial statement that Macklemore would not perform at Gillette Stadium because of "recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran's shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery," which he described as deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, the Jerusalem Post reported. The New York Post reported that Macklemore was also barred at stadiums in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Dallas and Tampa, citing a social media post, while an unnamed source told the outlet the other bans "wasn't pushed by Robert. They were all thinking that and got together."

According to Euronews, Macklemore said his net earnings would go to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, Heal Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, UNRWA USA National Committee and Anera. In the same statement, carried by Arab News and Boston.com, he said he wanted to return the conversation to Palestinians "still being killed, still living under military occupation, and still fighting for their freedom," and wrote that whatever the two disagree about, they might agree that Palestinian lives are worth protecting and are no less valuable than any other life.

Boston.com reported that during the MetLife Stadium performance Macklemore repeated "Free Palestine," said he wanted the words heard from Gaza to the occupied West Bank, voiced support for student activist groups including Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voices for Peace, and added that criticism of Israel or apartheid was not a criticism of Jewish people. He also listed Lebanon, Cuba, Congo, Sudan and people in America "living in fear" of ICE as causes he supported, saying none would be free until all were free, according to Boston.com and Euronews. Euronews reported that Kraft accused Macklemore of a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric, which the rapper denies, and that Kraft did not specify which organizations would receive his $2 million.

The Jerusalem Post cited statements by American businessman Dave Portnoy, who said Macklemore had appeared at a 2014 Seattle concert in what Portnoy described as a widely antisemitic trope, called him a "9/11 truther," and argued that Kraft can decide what messages are permitted on a site he owns. The Guardian US noted that Macklemore apologized in 2014 after wearing a wig, beard and hooked nose at a Seattle concert, which critics described as an antisemitic caricature. The Jerusalem Post also reported mixed reactions to Kraft's statement, including a critical post from Turkish-American political activist Cenk Uygur.

Euronews reported that Sheeran said he was "appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine," described the suffering and pain on both sides as a human tragedy, said "I am not complicit," and stated that Macklemore coming off the tour was the promoter's decision rather than his, and that Macklemore's contract was with the promoter, not with him. Boston.com reported that Sheeran attempted to shift responsibility to Messina Touring Group, the tour promoter, and that music industry figures told the Associated Press that promoters almost exclusively answer to headlining artists; music industry lawyer Dean Sheldon Serwin said the superstar headliner has approval over everything, and Oak View Group executive Ray Waddell said promoters almost without exception want to do what the artists want.

The supporting acts all announced departures. Finneas, brother of Billie Eilish, said he would not join the South American leg and that artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. Irish band Beoga said playing venues that silence anyone advocating for a Free Palestine was not an option. Irish singer Aaron Rowe cited Ireland's history of genocide, forced famine and violent occupation and said he could not stand by while billionaires used their power to silence those speaking against Israeli genocide. Danish act Lukas Graham wrote that money does not confer the right to own the conversation and that no one's bank balance should decide who may speak or which suffering may be acknowledged, according to Boston.com, which also reported that Sheeran had performed at Kraft's wedding in 2022 and that the Gillette dates were scheduled for Sept. 25 and 26. The New York Post reported that Sheeran's own band also left the tour in solidarity, citing a source who said Sheeran "could go onstage with an acoustic guitar and it would be a sell out."

Euronews reported that Massive Attack said entertainment can never be bigger than resisting apartheid and genocide, that no artist should tolerate the censorship of another however much money is involved, and that they stand in solidarity with artists risking their careers in defence of Palestinian rights. The New York Post reported that Kraft had publicly asked Macklemore for a sit-down, that unnamed music sources said Macklemore had not yet responded to the invitation, and that Kraft does want to meet; the outlet said it had reached out to representatives for comment.

All Perspectives

Macklemore: He said he would donate all $1 million of his net earnings from Sheeran's Loop Tour to six organizations supporting Palestinians and invited Kraft to match it, writing that whatever they disagree about, they might agree that Palestinian lives are worth protecting and are no less valuable than any other life. He said his aim was to return the conversation to Palestinians still being killed, living under military occupation and fighting for their freedom, and that criticism of Israel or apartheid was in no way a criticism of his Jewish brothers and sisters, describing his message as one of peace and equal dignity.

Robert Kraft: He said he had dedicated much of his life to building bridges between all people and believes deeply that all lives are worth protecting. He said that earlier that day, before Macklemore challenged him, Sheeran called and asked him to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid the region and fight the humanitarian crisis, and that Sheeran now plans to reach out to other venue owners so they can work together to build bridges. He added that for decades he has supported efforts creating opportunity for Palestinians and bringing young Palestinians and Israelis together to build businesses, create jobs and forge relationships. Separately, he said Macklemore would not perform at Gillette due to his recent actions, material shared from the stage in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that he said was deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, and that events at the venue should not provide a platform for hate speech. The New York Post reported he has publicly asked Macklemore to meet.

Ed Sheeran: He said he was appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine and called the suffering and pain caused on both sides a human tragedy. He said he is not complicit, that he holds personal views on the conflict, and that choosing not to speak publicly does not mean he lacks them or does not care. He said Macklemore's departure from the tour was the promoter's decision rather than his, and that Macklemore's contract was with the promoter, not him.

Finneas: He told his Instagram followers he would withdraw from the South American leg of Sheeran's world tour, saying artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed and that he stands with Palestine and its people.

Beoga: The Irish band said it would no longer take part as part of Sheeran's band following the silencing of Macklemore, saying that while they remain friends with Sheeran after more than ten years, playing venues that silence anyone advocating for a Free Palestine is simply not an option for them.

Aaron Rowe: The Irish singer cited Ireland's own experience of genocide, forced famine and violent occupation, and said he could not stand by and let billionaires use their position of power to silence voices speaking up against Israeli genocide and highlighting the killing of children, adding that he would lose respect for himself by carrying on as normal.

Lukas Graham: In a statement leaving the tour, the Danish act wrote that money does not give anyone the right to own the conversation and that no one's bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering is allowed to be acknowledged.

Massive Attack: The band said entertainment can never be bigger than resisting apartheid and genocide, that neutrality in the face of the killing of children can never be neutrality, and that no artist should tolerate the censorship of another artist however many millions of dollars are involved. They said they stand in solidarity with artists risking their careers in defence of Palestinian rights and against the occupation, apartheid, war crimes and genocide they attribute to the State of Israel.

Cenk Uygur: The Turkish-American political activist said Kraft would probably send the money to "the region" to help Israel kill more children and use the rest to cancel anyone who disagrees, adding that Kraft is part of a group that bullies Americans regularly and takes away their rights to help Israel.

Dave Portnoy: The American businessman said Macklemore has a shady past, including dressing in a widely antisemitic trope at a concert before the October 7 attacks, described him as a 9/11 truther who insinuated George Bush was responsible for the towers falling, and said his Free Palestine stance may reflect deeper-seated hatred than he suggests. He argued that "this ain't freedom of speech" and that Kraft can decide what messages are allowed at a site he owns.

Music industry professionals: Music industry lawyer Dean Sheldon Serwin told the Associated Press that the superstar headliner will have approval over everything, and Ray Waddell, an executive at entertainment and venue management company Oak View Group, said that almost without exception the promoter wants to do what the artists want, according to Boston.com.

Unnamed music sources cited by the New York Post: One source said the bans at stadiums beyond Gillette "wasn't pushed by Robert. They were all thinking that and got together." Another source dismissed the impact of Sheeran's band leaving, saying Sheeran could perform with an acoustic guitar and still sell out. The outlet also reported that Macklemore has so far not responded to Kraft's public invitation to meet, while sources said Kraft genuinely wants a meeting.

Position not represented in the source reporting: Messina Touring Group (tour promoter named in the dispute over Macklemore's removal); The other unnamed stadium owners and venues reported to have barred Macklemore.

Where sources differ

Boston.com and the New York Post describe Macklemore's and Kraft's statements as being issued Wednesday, while the Jerusalem Post dates Kraft's statement to Thursday and Arab News says Macklemore posted "last night"; Boston.com says Kraft's statement followed roughly two hours after Macklemore's.
Euronews reports that Kraft and Sheeran each pledged $2 million, while Boston.com reports Kraft described his pledge as matching Sheeran's existing $2 million donation; Arab News frames the combined pledges as $3 million in aid.
Responsibility for Macklemore's removal is contested: Sheeran says it was the promoter's decision and not his, Kraft's initial statement says the stadium determined Macklemore would not perform there, and Macklemore alleges Kraft rallied other stadium owners to pressure Sheeran. An unnamed source told the New York Post that the other stadium bans were not pushed by Kraft.
Euronews reports that Kraft did not say which organizations or charities would receive his $2 million, whereas Macklemore disclosed six named recipient organizations.
Whether Kraft's $2 million commitment preceded Macklemore's challenge rests on Kraft's own account, which the sources report without independent confirmation.

Gaps & Unknowns

None of the sources establishes which organizations or charities will receive Kraft's $2 million, or over what period the money will be distributed; Euronews notes he did not specify recipients.
No source establishes whether Ed Sheeran's $2 million donation cited by Kraft is a separate commitment from Sheeran's own funds, to whom it is directed, or when it was made.
Messina Touring Group, the promoter Sheeran names as responsible for Macklemore's removal, has not commented in any of the supplied sources.
The unnamed other stadium owners who barred Macklemore, and the venues themselves, have not responded publicly in any of the supplied sources.
No source establishes whether Macklemore and Kraft will meet, when, or on what terms; the New York Post says Macklemore has not answered the invitation.
Euronews reports Sheeran has not responded to his support acts pulling out or to the related criticism; no source contains such a response.
The exact dates and sequence of Macklemore's and Kraft's statements differ between sources and are not reconciled by any one of them.
The financial terms of Macklemore's tour contract with the promoter, and the basis on which he was removed, are not established by any source.
Macklemore's denial of a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric is reported without any source detailing what specific material Kraft was referring to beyond the 2014 Seattle appearance.

Sources & Further Reading

Boston.com — original — by Kevin Slane
New York Post — by mliss1578
The Guardian US — by Guardian Staff
The Jerusalem Post — by JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Euronews — by David Mouriquand
Arab News — by Arab News

Read the original at Boston.com

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