Ed Sheeran's world tour has had the rug pulled out from under it, and a Palm Beach resident is at the center of it all.
It started when Seattle rapper Macklemore, Sheeran's opening act on the tour, made pro-Palestinian remarks at Sheeran's recent shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. After that, Macklemore was dropped after concert venues threatened to take away the show's dates.
Robert Kraft, owner of the NFL's New England Patriots, who is Jewish and an outspoken supporter of Israel, said he would bar Macklemore from performing at Gillette Stadium — which Kraft owns — following Macklemore's pro-Palestinian remarks. Macklemore said on social media that Sheeran told him that Kraft got other stadium owners to force Sheeran to leave the tour.
The
tour's promoter, Messina Touring Group, has said other venues notified it that they would not allow concerts to take place if Macklemore was in the lineup.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” Sheeran wrote on social media about the ousting.
All of Sheeran's other opening acts have withdrawn in support of Macklemore — born Ben Haggerty — and the Palestinian people. They include Irish performers Aaron Rowe and Beoga, the Danish band Lukas Graham, and Finneas, Billie Eilish's brother.
The controversy comes as the third anniversary of the war in Gaza approaches. The war began after an attack by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed nearly 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals. The war in Gaza has seen more than 70,000 killed.
According to a video taken at the Jersey tour dates Macklemore said: "A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour was so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine."
"To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you," he continued.
His comments drew criticism not only from Kraft but also the singer Pink, who also identifies as a Jewish woman.
On Sept. 16, Macklemore took to social media, posting:
"With everything that has happened over the last 48 hours, I want to bring the conversation back to where it belongs: to the Palestinian people who are still being killed, still living under military occupation, and still fighting for their freedom."
"I will be donating the entire $1 million of my net earnings from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour to six organizations working directly to support the Palestinian people. And I invite Robert Kraft to match my donation," he wrote.
Kraft has been a part-time South Florida resident for years and owns a penthouse condominium in Palm Beach. Just hours after Macklemore committed his $1 million, he revealed he would commit $2 million.
Per Kraft, Sheeran, who's previously steered clear of political positions, committed $2 million himself and asked Kraft to do the same.
"Earlier today before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed (Sheeran) called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis," he wrote in a statement posted on social media.
"In addition, I'd like the people who are speaking in support of the Palestinian people to know that for decades, I have supported efforts that create opportunity for Palestinians."
Kraft wrote that Sheeran is reaching out to other venue owners to ask them to commit their own money to the cause.
Arianna Otero covers breaking news for The Palm Beach Post. Contact her via email at AOtero@pbpost.com and follow her on X: @ari_v_otero.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Macklemore exit from Sheeran tour began with Palm Beach's Robert Kraft
