Robert Kraft
Robert Kraft said Macklemore’s recent action and comments crossed the venue’s line on hate speech. New England Patriots/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 4.0

Robert Kraft has defended his decision to bar Macklemore from performing at Gillette Stadium after the rapper's 'Free Palestine' remarks sparked backlash and were followed by his removal from the remaining US dates of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour.

The New England Patriots owner said the decision followed Macklemore's recent actions and comments, after the rapper alleged Kraft had pressured Sheeran and rallied other stadium owners to push for his removal from the tour.

Robert Kraft Defends Barring Macklemore

Kraft confirmed that Macklemore would not perform at Gillette Stadium during Sheeran's scheduled concerts on 25 and 26 September.

'Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech,' Kraft said in a statement shared with Variety.

According to the publication, Kraft said Macklemore's recent actions and material shown from the stage, along with what he described as a 'broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery', led the venue to conclude that the rapper's participation would cross that line.

Kraft stressed that the decision was not intended to diminish Palestinian suffering or prevent people from advocating for Palestinians.

He said he had spent much of the past decade fighting antisemitism and hate, adding that he felt a responsibility to act when he believed that line had been crossed.

Macklemore Addresses Tour Removal

Macklemore announced his removal from Sheeran's remaining US tour dates in a lengthy Instagram statement on Monday, 14 September.

The rapper said he and Sheeran, whom he described as a close friend for 13 years, had held several difficult conversations about the fallout from his 'Free Palestine' comments.

Macklemore also alleged that Sheeran told him Kraft had called about the Gillette Stadium shows and said he would not be allowed to perform there.

He further alleged that Kraft had rallied other stadium owners and that they collectively pressured Sheeran to remove him from the tour.

However, those wider claims remain Macklemore's account. The tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, separately confirmed that venues had told it they would not allow concerts to take place with Macklemore on the line-up.

Macklemore said his support for Palestine would not change, adding that he did not need 10 shows and only needed two.

'Two chances to stand in front of 90,000 people and say the words that somehow became too dangerous to say,' he wrote.

'If those words cost me the stage, while turning the conversation back to Palestine, then it was the most successful tour I've ever been on,' he added.

Macklemore's 'Free Palestine' Controversy Explained

The controversy escalated after Macklemore spoke about Palestine during Sheeran's 4 September concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

'Free Palestine' was among the statements he made from the stage, while he also performed his protest song 'Hind's Hall' alongside images of destruction in Gaza.

The remarks prompted criticism from groups including the Israeli-American Council and StopAntisemitism, which called for Macklemore to be removed from the tour.

At a second MetLife show on 5 September, Macklemore again expressed support for Palestinians while addressing Jewish members of the audience.

He said criticism of Israel and opposition to genocide were not criticism of Jewish people, adding that his message was about 'peace, love' and dignity and equality for all.

Macklemore has rejected accusations of antisemitism and argued that criticism of Israel should not be conflated with antisemitism.

Sheeran has not publicly commented on the dispute. Macklemore had been scheduled to perform at eight of the remaining 10 US shows before his removal was announced.

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