Robert Kraft Defends Banning Macklemore From Ed Sheeran Tour After ‘Free Palestine’ Comments: ‘We Do Not Provide a Platform for Hate Speech’

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has publicly defended his decision to block rapper Macklemore from opening for Ed Sheeran at several stadiums. The controversy erupted after Macklemore made comments about Palestine during performances in New Jersey on September 4 and 5. Macklemore fired back, accusing Kraft of lobbying other stadium operators to keep him off their stages. Gillette Stadium, which is run by the Kraft Group and stands as one of the NFL's largest venues, has been a major concert destination for decades.

Kraft's office took about an hour to confirm his statement to Variety. In it, he said he would "welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts." Neither Macklemore's nor Sheeran's representatives responded immediately to Kraft's remarks. Sheeran, the British singer-songwriter known for record-shattering albums such as Divide, has not spoken publicly since the dispute began. A source familiar with the tour's internal talks said Sheeran's team had spent weeks deliberating how to respond before the promoter made its announcement, aware that any choice would upset part of the fanbase. The singer, whose 2017 album Divide produced hits like "Shape of You" and "Perfect," has built a reputation for avoiding political controversy throughout his career.

Kraft's statement read: "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. 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. This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. Their pain and loss are real. But that advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas, a United States and globally (including Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, and Japan) designated terrorist organization whose horrific actions have caused immeasurable suffering for Palestinians and Israelis alike. I agree with Macklemore. Too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate. Over many decades, I have directed resources to Palestine and created athletic and entrepreneurial opportunities for Palestinians who I admire and respect. Standing with the Palestinian people and standing against Hamas, antisemitism and hate should not be mutually exclusive. Much of my time and attention for the last decade has been focused on the fight against antisemitism and hate of all kinds, and I feel a responsibility to stand up when I believe that line has been crossed. I have tremendous respect for Ed and his music, particularly his unique ability to bring people together and spread joy, and I have always been proud to welcome him and his fans to Gillette Stadium. I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same – peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate." Kraft, who has owned the Patriots since 1994 and built them into a six-time Super Bowl champion franchise, has also been a prominent philanthropist through the Kraft Family Foundation.

Earlier on Monday, Macklemore shared a long social media post claiming that Sheeran had told him about a phone call from Kraft. According to Macklemore's account, Kraft said he would be banned from Gillette Stadium and had convinced other venue owners to deliver an ultimatum: keep Macklemore on the bill and Sheeran would lose access to their stadiums. "Ed was in a fucked up position," Macklemore wrote. "He knew it. His typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before." The rapper, whose 2012 single "Same Love" became an anthem for marriage equality, added that Sheeran told him the phrase "Free Palestine" and the Palestinian flag caused hurt to many people he had consulted. "I told him that if those words were more offensive than tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a fundamental disconnect between where those people stood and where I stood. But he couldn't get past his public facing, 'I don't take sides.' And I get why people don't. Taking a side can cost you. Money, brand deals, sponsorships, festivals, private shows, relationships and access. I've lost all of those things. But there is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed. When one side has the bombs and bottomless financial and military support from America, refusing to take a side doesn't leave you in the middle."

Concert promoter Messina Touring Group issued a statement early Monday confirming that Macklemore had been dropped from the tour as of September 14. "As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran's U.S. Loop Tour, we have been notified by venues on the upcoming U.S. tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans," the statement said. "After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates." The incident highlights the intensifying pressure venues and artists face when navigating political statements amid heightened tensions, with financial and reputational consequences on every side. Messina Touring Group, founded by Louis Messina, is one of the industry's leading promoters and has worked with major acts including Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney.