Robert Kraft Pressured Ed Sheeran to Remove Macklemore from Tour Over Alleged Antisemitic Rhetoric
Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and CEO of the Kraft Group, which owns Gillette Stadium, has confirmed that he pressured pop star Ed Sheeran to remove rapper Macklemore from his American tour. Kraft stated that allowing Macklemore to perform at Gillette Stadium would 'cross a line' due to the rapper's recent performances and a 'broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.' This decision followed Macklemore's speech at a previous Sheeran show in New Jersey, where he expressed support for Palestine, stating, 'I say free Palestine. I say free Lebanon. Free Cuba to the Congo to Sudan to Iran.' Macklemore also performed his song 'Hind’s Hall,' dedicated to a five-year-old girl killed in Gaza. Ed Sheeran later clarified that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the venues and promoters, not by him, citing that venues on his upcoming tour dates communicated they would pull shows if Macklemore remained on the tour.
