Robert Kraft Pledges $2 Million to Aid in Region After Macklemore Controversy

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced he will donate $2 million to aid in the region, a pledge made after pro-Palestinian rapper Macklemore was removed as an opening act for Ed Sheeran's concert at Kraft's Gillette Stadium.

Kraft confirmed on Monday that he had Macklemore dropped from Sheeran's forthcoming Loop Tour at the stadium near Boston, citing hate speech. The decision drew criticism, and Sheeran stated that promoters, not he, made the choice to remove Macklemore, and he would not engage in a public debate over Gaza.

Macklemore himself announced Wednesday that he would donate $1 million to Palestinian organizations and challenged Kraft to match the sum. In response, Kraft released a statement saying that Ed Sheeran had contacted him earlier that day, asking him to commit $2 million to match Macklemore's donation to combat the humanitarian crisis.

"Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges," Kraft stated. He added that he has long supported efforts to create opportunities for Palestinians and has worked to bring young Israelis and Palestinians together to build businesses and forge relationships.

Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, had called for a "free Palestine" and displayed images of devastation in Gaza during two Sheeran concerts in New Jersey earlier this month. He was subsequently removed from the tour lineup days before it was scheduled to resume in Philadelphia.

Kraft, who is Jewish, stated on Monday that his venue would not provide a platform for hate speech and accused Macklemore of having a history of antisemitic rhetoric, which the rapper denies. Kraft also alleged that Macklemore was sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas.

In solidarity with Macklemore, all other support acts for Sheeran's US tour, including Finneas, Aaron Rowe, and the bands Lukas Graham and Beoga, have quit the tour. They cited Macklemore's removal as a "chilling effect on free speech."

Macklemore stated on Wednesday that he would donate his entire $1 million net earnings from the tour to six Palestinian organizations, aiming to "bring the conversation back to where it belongs: to the Palestinian people."