Ocasio-Cortez Criticizes Billionaire Kraft Over Macklemore's Tour Removal

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has entered the controversy surrounding rapper Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran's U.S. tour, criticizing billionaire Robert Kraft in a fundraising memo sent to supporters.

Macklemore faced backlash after performing with a "Free Palestine" message on stage during an opening set for Ed Sheeran's tour. According to the fundraising text obtained by Fox News Digital, Ocasio-Cortez stated that Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, allegedly made calls that led to Macklemore being pulled from the tour.

"This is not just about a single musical act," Ocasio-Cortez wrote. "This is about how a small handful of powerful people, like stadium owners, can threaten someone’s livelihood in order to prevent an entire massive issue from being spoken about — in this case, the genocide in Gaza."

She suggested that the incident represents a broader struggle between social classes, where wealthy individuals can silence dissent on issues they disagree with. "Oligarchs and billionaires could just as easily prevent people from speaking out about AI, workers’ rights, or any issue they don’t like," Ocasio-Cortez stated. "That is what makes this a dangerous precedent. This moment is a test of how far the very powerful can go in censoring speech."

Ocasio-Cortez urged supporters to speak out against what she described as an abuse of power by Kraft, aiming to keep the focus on his alleged use of influence to control public discourse in America.

Macklemore, known for his 2012 hit "Thrift Shop," reportedly said "Free Palestine" during a Sept. 4 performance. He later performed a song inspired by anti-Israel protests at Columbia University and reiterated his call for a free Palestine, as well as Lebanon, Cuba, Congo, Sudan, and Iran.

Following these statements, Kraft reportedly threatened to cancel Sheeran's show at Gillette Stadium and warned other stadium owners might follow suit. Despite this, Macklemore repeated his "Free Palestine" message at a subsequent show, clarifying that his comments were directed at the Israeli government, not the Jewish religion.

Kraft, who has ties to former President Donald Trump, told NBC News that his actions were prompted by a broader pattern of public discourse he viewed as harmful to Jewish people. He expressed a willingness to discuss the matter with Macklemore, stating, "ultimately our goal is the same — peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate." Kraft also pledged $2 million toward Palestinian aid amid the controversy.

Macklemore later announced he was donating $1 million to Palestinian aid organizations in the wake of the tour incident. Other figures, including Colin Kaepernick and Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, have publicly supported Macklemore amid the controversy.