Rapper Macklemore has been dropped from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran’s U.S. stadium tour following his controversial pro-Palestinian performances — and he is now pointing the finger directly at New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
Macklemore claims Kraft personally contacted Sheeran and then rallied other stadium owners to effectively force the rapper off the tour.
Kraft, meanwhile, isn’t denying that he barred Macklemore from performing at Gillette Stadium.
Instead, the Jewish billionaire and longtime advocate against antisemitism is defending the decision, arguing that Macklemore crossed the line from advocating for Palestinians into rhetoric and imagery that Kraft believes has been harmful to Jewish people.
Macklemore Gets Dropped From Ed Sheeran’s Tour
The controversy began after Macklemore used his opening slot during Sheeran’s concerts at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to deliver an extended political message about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As Variety reported, Macklemore told the audience that one of the reasons he joined Sheeran’s tour was so he could stand on stages across America and declare, “Free Palestine.”
The rapper performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall” while wearing a keffiyeh and displaying footage connected to Gaza and pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
He also accused Israel of atrocities and war crimes.
The performance immediately generated backlash. The Israeli-American Council launched a petition demanding Macklemore’s removal, arguing that customers purchased tickets for an Ed Sheeran concert rather than a political demonstration.
Macklemore returned the following night and doubled down.
According to Variety, he attempted to separate his criticism of Israel from criticism of Jewish people, telling Jewish audience members that his political message was not directed at them.
That apparently wasn’t enough to save his remaining appearances as Macklemore has now been removed from the rest of Sheeran’s U.S. tour.
Macklemore Points The Finger At Robert Kraft
In a lengthy statement addressing his removal, Macklemore claimed that Sheeran personally told him that Robert Kraft had intervened.
Kraft owns the New England Patriots as well as Gillette Stadium through the Kraft Group. Sheeran is scheduled to perform at Gillette Stadium on September 25 and 26.
According to Macklemore, Sheeran told him that Kraft called and informed the singer that Macklemore would not be permitted to perform at the stadium.
But Macklemore went significantly further.
Macklemore in an interview – YouTube, The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon
He claims Sheeran told him Kraft had contacted other stadium owners and that they collectively presented Sheeran with an ultimatum: remove Macklemore or lose access to their venues.
“Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners, and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues,” Macklemore said.
That’s an extraordinary allegation. It’s also important to distinguish between what has been confirmed and what Macklemore is alleging.
Kraft has confirmed that he didn’t want Macklemore performing at Gillette Stadium. However, Macklemore’s broader claim that Kraft organized other stadium owners against him is based on Macklemore’s description of a private conversation he says he had with Sheeran.
Robert Kraft Fires Back
Kraft isn’t backing away from his own decision.
In a statement reported by TMZ, Kraft said Gillette Stadium has a responsibility to maintain a welcoming environment and not provide a platform for hate speech.
Kraft said Macklemore’s recent performances, combined with what he described as the rapper’s “broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery,” led the stadium to conclude that allowing Macklemore to participate in the upcoming concerts would cross that line.
Kraft also rejected the suggestion that the decision was simply an effort to prevent advocacy on behalf of Palestinians.
Macklemore in an interview – YouTube, The Diary of a CEO
“This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf,” Kraft said.
Instead, he argued that advocacy for Palestinians should not come “at the expense of the Jewish community” or ignore the role played by Hamas.
Kraft also said he has spent decades directing resources toward Palestinians and creating opportunities for Palestinians, arguing that supporting Palestinian civilians and opposing Hamas and antisemitism are not mutually exclusive positions.
He even offered to meet Macklemore personally to discuss the dispute.
Macklemore Says Antisemitism Is Being ‘Weaponized’
Macklemore, however, has turned his removal into a broader argument about Israel, antisemitism, and political influence.
The rapper acknowledged that antisemitism exists but argued that accusations of antisemitism are being used as a shield against criticism of Israel.
According to the New York Post, Macklemore accused Kraft and others of attempting to “weaponize the accusation of antisemitism.”
Macklemore blames Jewish NFL owner Robert Kraft for getting kicked off Ed Sheeran tour, paints himself a martyr in wacky statement https://t.co/CCAYy39H4S pic.twitter.com/rJ8gWlvvTw
— New York Post (@nypost) September 14, 2026
He further argued that such accusations are being used to protect Israel from accountability.
That makes Macklemore’s decision to single out Kraft particularly noteworthy.
Kraft is Jewish and has made combating antisemitism one of his most prominent philanthropic causes. He founded the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism and has publicly supported Israel while also saying in his response to Macklemore that innocent Palestinian suffering is real.
Macklemore nevertheless appears to view Kraft’s opposition to his performances as evidence of a larger effort to suppress his political message.
Macklemore Says His Bigger Platform Made Him A Target
Macklemore also argues that there is a reason his pro-Palestinian activism suddenly became enough to cost him a major tour.
He has been making similar statements for years. The difference, Macklemore claims, was the size of Sheeran’s platform.
“What I said at MetLife I have been saying on stages around the world for almost three years. So why is it an issue now?” Macklemore said.
Macklemore in an interview – YouTube, Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM
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His answer was essentially that appearing alongside one of the world’s biggest musicians gave the message substantially greater reach.
Macklemore speculated that allowing him to repeatedly declare support for Palestine in packed stadiums while touring with Sheeran could encourage other major artists to do the same.
That interpretation casts his removal as a coordinated effort to silence political speech.
There’s, of course, another interpretation.
Venue owners simply may not want an opening act turning massive stadium concerts into political rallies — particularly when those performances generate complaints from customers and accusations that Jewish attendees are being subjected to rhetoric they consider hostile.
Ed Sheeran Gets Stuck In The Middle
Sheeran himself appears to have been placed in an increasingly untenable position.
According to Macklemore’s account, the two had “difficult conversations” about the controversy.
Macklemore said Sheeran has attempted to remain publicly neutral on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and told him that his comments could be hurtful to many people.
Macklemore clearly wasn’t satisfied with that response.
The rapper described Sheeran as being placed in an awful position but criticized his refusal to publicly choose a side.
And ultimately, Sheeran did make a decision. Macklemore is no longer on the tour.
The Kraft Accusation Changes The Story
Macklemore has every right to advocate for Palestinians and criticize the Israeli government. Robert Kraft also has every right to decide who performs inside a stadium his company owns. Those two principles aren’t mutually exclusive.
The more serious question is Macklemore’s allegation that Kraft went beyond Gillette Stadium and organized other venue owners to pressure Sheeran into removing him from the tour entirely.
If evidence emerges substantiating that claim, it becomes a much larger story about the enormous influence stadium owners can exercise over touring artists.
Macklemore in an interview – YouTube, The Diary of a CEO
For now, however, that portion of Macklemore’s account remains an allegation attributed to a private conversation with Sheeran.
What isn’t disputed is that Kraft wanted Macklemore off the Gillette Stadium shows.
Macklemore wanted to use one of the biggest concert tours in America to make his political message impossible to ignore. He succeeded.
He also discovered that the people who own the stages aren’t obligated to give him the microphone.
How do you feel about Macklemore being dropped from the Ed Sheeran tour? Sound off and let us know!
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