Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, has publicly defended his decision to prevent Macklemore from performing as a support act for Ed Sheeran, saying the venue will not serve as a platform for hate speech. The move effectively removed the rapper from the remaining U.S. dates of Sheeran's Loop Tour.
In a statement, Kraft said Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held there do not provide a platform for hate speech. He pointed to Macklemore's recent actions, material shared from the stage during Sheeran's shows in New Jersey, and what he described as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that he believes has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community. Kraft said that participation in the September 25 and 26 concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line.
Kraft stressed that the decision was not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. He acknowledged that their pain and loss are real, but argued that such advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas, which he noted is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and other governments. He added that too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but that sharing only selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest.
The dispute began after Macklemore made impassioned speeches during his opening sets for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5. He told the crowd he wanted those in Gaza and the West Bank to know they have not been forgotten, adding that every human being deserves the same freedom. He also called for a free Palestine alongside Cuba, Congo, Sudan, and Iran, and performed his pro-Palestine track «Hind's Hall» while footage of Gaza played onscreen.
The Israeli-American Council subsequently called for his removal from the tour, claiming he had used his platform to advance a one-sided political agenda. Messina Touring Group, the promoter of the U.S. leg of Sheeran's Loop Tour, later announced that venues on the upcoming dates would not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would have resulted in the cancellation of the tour and affected hundreds of thousands of fans. After discussions with stakeholders, it was decided that Macklemore would not perform on the remaining support dates.
Macklemore responded on Instagram, saying he was not a victim and that neither was Ed Sheeran nor Pink. He said the real victims are the Palestinian people, citing more than 20,000 children killed in Gaza alone. He claimed that Sheeran told him Kraft had said he would not be allowed to perform in his stadium, and that Kraft had rallied other stadium owners to give Sheeran an ultimatum: if Macklemore stayed on the tour, Sheeran would not be allowed to play in their venues.
The episode has reignited debates about artistic expression, political speech, and the responsibilities of venues and promoters when performers take controversial positions. It also highlights the growing pressure on touring artists to navigate sensitive geopolitical issues while maintaining relationships with the stadiums and promoters that make large-scale tours possible.