Kraft says it was him

Patriots owner Robert Kraft confirmed to Rolling Stone that he made the call to bar Macklemore from opening for Ed Sheeran at Gillette Stadium.

What set it off

At MetLife Stadium in early September, Macklemore shouted "Free Palestine," showed images of the devastation in Gaza, and performed his protest song "Hind's Hall."

“I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them.”

The reason Kraft gave

He cited the rapper's recent actions, the material shown onstage in New Jersey, and what he called a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.

A 2014 costume resurfaces

Kraft appeared to reference an incident where Macklemore was accused of dressing as an antisemitic caricature. The rapper apologized but said he was only trying to disguise himself.

Not just Gillette

Macklemore was dropped from the two Gillette dates and from the rest of Sheeran's Loop tour entirely.

The ultimatum claim

Macklemore alleges Kraft rallied other stadium owners to tell Sheeran that keeping him on the tour meant losing their venues. Kraft's statement never addressed that, and his rep did not comment.

“If Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.”

Kraft draws his own line

He said the ban was not about denying advocacy for Palestinians, but argued that selective information ignoring Hamas fuels division. Kraft has funded projects in Palestine and campaigns against antisemitism.

“Standing with the Palestinian people and standing against Hamas, antisemitism and hate should not be mutually exclusive.”

Macklemore's rebuttal

He argues that treating criticism of Israel as hatred of Jewish people protects a state rather than a people, and cheapens a word that still matters.

“Antisemitism is real. And that is exactly why the word matters too much to be used as a shield against criticism of the Israeli state.”