New England Patriots owner and Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft has said that singer Ed Sheeran asked him to commit $2 million toward humanitarian aid in the region, following the controversy surrounding rapper Macklemore’s removal from Sheeran’s US tour.
The development came after Macklemore announced that he would donate $1 million in net earnings from his appearances on Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organizations supporting Palestinians. Macklemore also publicly challenged Kraft to match his donation.
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, made the announcement on September 16. He said the $1 million represented his entire net earnings from the tour and would be distributed among six organizations: the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, UNRWA USA and Anera.
His announcement followed his removal from the remaining US dates of Sheeran’s tour. The decision came after Macklemore made comments supporting Palestinians during performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier in September. During one performance, he said “Free Palestine” and spoke about the situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Kraft subsequently confirmed that Macklemore would not perform at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, where Sheeran is scheduled to perform. Kraft said his decision was based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared during the New Jersey shows and what he described as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that he said had been offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.
Sheeran has said that Macklemore’s removal was a decision made by the tour promoter rather than by him personally. In a statement, Sheeran said Macklemore’s contract was with the promoter and that he had spent the week attempting to find a solution.
The controversy intensified when other artists scheduled to support Sheeran withdrew from the remaining US shows. Finneas, Lukas Graham, Beoga and Aaron Rowe were among the supporting acts reported to have left the tour following Macklemore’s removal.
Against this backdrop, Macklemore announced his $1 million donation and asked Kraft to match it. Several hours later, Kraft issued a statement through Gillette Stadium’s social media account.
Kraft said that, before Macklemore made the public challenge, Sheeran had contacted him and asked him to commit $2 million to humanitarian aid “in the region.” Kraft said the money was intended to help address the humanitarian crisis. He also said Sheeran planned to contact other venue owners about contributing to humanitarian efforts.
However, the precise status of the $2 million commitment remains unclear. Kraft’s statement said Sheeran had asked him to commit the money, but it did not identify the organizations that would receive it. Reports also noted that Sheeran had not publicly confirmed the donation at the time of publication.
Kraft also said he has supported initiatives involving Palestinians and Israelis over several decades. He described his stated goal as supporting humanitarian efforts while bringing people together.
The latest developments have placed the humanitarian issue alongside the continuing dispute over Macklemore’s removal from Sheeran’s tour. Macklemore’s $1 million pledge, Kraft’s reported $2 million commitment and Sheeran’s involvement have all emerged within days of the controversy surrounding the US leg of the Loop Tour.
