Macklemore blames Patriots owner Robert Kraft for getting kicked off Ed Sheeran tour after ‘Free Palestine’ speech

Macklemore has accused New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft of helping force him off Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after his outspoken support for Palestine triggered a fierce backlash.

The 43-year-old rapper was scheduled to continue as Sheeran’s opening act across the remaining U.S. dates, but Messina Touring Group confirmed Monday that he’d been removed.

The promoter said several venues had indicated they wouldn’t host shows featuring Macklemore , warning that keeping him on the bill could have resulted in cancellations affecting hundreds of thousands of fans.

The decision came days after Macklemore performed at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5. During his opening set, he repeatedly voiced support for Palestinians, urged the audience to say “Free Palestine,” and used footage depicting destruction in Gaza during his performance of “Hind’s Hall.”

His comments quickly became controversial, with critics accusing the rapper of crossing a line by bringing the Israel-Gaza conflict into a major concert tour. Calls for his removal followed, including an online petition that attracted attention after his performances.

Macklemore points to Kraft’s alleged ultimatum

After news of his departure broke, Macklemore claimed his longtime friend Sheeran had told him about a conversation with Kraft , whose company owns Gillette Stadium.

“Ed told me that Robert Kraft called him. We were scheduled to play Gillette Stadium later this month, which is owned by the Kraft Group. Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium,” Macklemore wrote in his Instagram post.

Macklemore alleged that Sheeran was effectively given an ultimatum: keep him on the tour and risk losing access to multiple venues, or remove him from the remaining shows.

The rapper said the situation put Sheeran in an extremely difficult position and emphasized that he doesn’t want their 13-year friendship to end because of their political disagreement.

Kraft’s response offered a different explanation. He said Gillette Stadium has a responsibility to provide a welcoming environment and not give a platform to hate speech. He argued that Macklemore’s recent performances, along with what he described as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery, had crossed a line for the Jewish community.

“Based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line,” read Kraft’s response.

At the same time, Kraft said recognizing Palestinian suffering and opposing antisemitism aren’t mutually exclusive. He stressed that innocent Palestinians have endured tremendous pain while also pointing to Hamas and its attacks as part of the wider conflict.

Kraft also said he’d be willing to sit down with Macklemore to discuss their differences and seek common ground.

Macklemore , meanwhile, has maintained that his support for Palestinians shouldn’t be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people. He has repeatedly spoken about Gaza and the occupied West Bank and has defended his decision to use his platform to draw attention to the issue.

The controversy has also drawn other musicians into the debate. Pink, who is Jewish, addressed the backlash surrounding Macklemore and explained that she felt she was “standing up for my own people” while acknowledging how isolating that could be.

Sheeran’s tour will now continue without Macklemore , who had several U.S. dates remaining.