# Billionaire NFL owners blacklist Macklemore over Gaza support

> Robert Kraft and other stadium owners forced Ed Sheeran to drop the rapper from his tour after he voiced support for Palestinians.
- Title: Billionaire NFL owners blacklist Macklemore over Gaza support
- Summary: Robert Kraft and other stadium owners forced Ed Sheeran to drop the rapper from his tour after he voiced support for Palestinians. Billionaire stadium owners…
- Keywords: macklemore, ed sheeran, robert kraft, new england patriots, gillette stadium, palestine, gaza, censorship, free speech, nfl, finneas, hind's hall
- Source: Mother Jones — https://motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/the-macklemore-ed-sheeran-dispute-is-a-corporate-threat-to-free-speech
- Author: Alex Nguyen
- Published: 2026-09-16T14:03:58+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: macklemore, ed sheeran, robert kraft, new england patriots, gillette stadium, palestine, gaza, censorship, free speech, nfl, finneas, hind's hall
## Kraft pressures Sheeran to drop Macklemore
Robert Kraft, Patriots owner, allegedly pressured Ed Sheeran to remove Macklemore from his tour after the rapper voiced support for Palestinians.
## Four opening acts quit in solidarity
All remaining opening acts, including Finneas, withdrew from the tour by Tuesday. Finneas wrote that artists must not be silenced when speaking for the oppressed.

> Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.
## Stadium owners issue an ultimatum
Kraft rallied other NFL stadium owners to give Sheeran an ultimatum: drop Macklemore or lose access to their venues for scheduled shows.

> Collectively they gave [Sheeran] an ultimatum: If Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.
## Macklemore performed pro-Palestine song
At two New Jersey shows, Macklemore performed "Hind's Hall," his 2024 song supporting Gaza ceasefire protests and honoring a five-year-old killed by the IDF.

> Free Palestine. I want to say those words loud and clear so the people of Gaza all the way to the West Bank know that we have not forgotten them.
## Corporate censorship of political speech
These publicly owned but corporate-branded venues have become tools for censorship. Kanye West, with his antisemitic history, faces no such blacklisting.
## AOC calls out the elite's power
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said a handful of stadium owners can prevent discussion of massive issues like the genocide in Gaza.
## Macklemore donates tour earnings to Gaza
The rapper pledged his $1 million in net tour earnings to six organizations supporting Palestinians. He invited Kraft to match his donation.

> Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting.
## Key takeaway

Billionaire stadium owners are using control of publicly owned venues to censor pro-Palestinian political speech by artists.