Robert Kraft Seeks Meeting With Macklemore Following Stadium Ban Over 'Free Palestine' Speech
Patriots owner has pledged $2 million to Palestinian relief efforts after the rapper's comments led to his exclusion from Ed Sheeran's tour.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has expressed a desire to meet with rapper Macklemore following a controversy that led to the artist being banned from performing at Kraft's Gillette Stadium. The ban was a response to Macklemore's "Free Palestine" speech during a performance on Ed Sheeran's current tour. \n\nKraft announced a $2 million pledge to Palestinian relief efforts, stating that Ed Sheeran had personally contacted him to encourage the donation. "Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis," Kraft said. He added that Sheeran intends to engage other venue owners with the goal of "build[ing] bridges."