A wealthy owner of a stadium, who reportedly played a key role in removing Macklemore as the opening act for Ed Sheeran due to his pro-Palestinian remarks, has now pledged a $2 million donation to support the region. This announcement followed Macklemore’s decision to donate $1 million from his tour earnings to several organizations aiding Palestinians, a move that included a challenge to Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft to match his contribution.
Although Kraft did not specify the destination of his funds, he mentioned that Ed Sheeran had initially requested him to match a $2 million donation made by Sheeran before Macklemore’s callout. Kraft emphasized his longstanding support for initiatives that foster opportunities for Palestinians and promote collaboration between young Palestinians and Israelis in business ventures.
Macklemore, also known as Benjamin Hammond Haggery, had been dropped from the tour after his vocal support for Palestinians during a show at MetLife Stadium, where he chanted “Free Palestine” and expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. This led to backlash from pro-Israel groups, prompting a petition for his removal.
Macklemore attributed his removal to Kraft, alleging that Kraft had prohibited him from performing and persuaded other stadium owners to threaten concert cancellations unless he was removed from the lineup. In response, all of Sheeran’s remaining supporting acts decided to quit the tour.
Sheeran, in a statement, clarified that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the promoter and was not his own. He expressed his dismay over the Israel-Palestine conflict. Subsequently, the Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe were enlisted to replace Macklemore as opening acts for Sheeran’s remaining U.S. tour dates.
The turmoil surrounding Macklemore’s departure from the tour continued to escalate as other supporting acts, including Sheeran’s backing band, chose to leave in solidarity. Notably, Finneas, an American singer and collaborator with Billie Eilish, emphasized the importance of artists not being silenced when advocating for the oppressed. Meanwhile, Lukas Graham hinted at issues of ownership and freedom of speech, stating that financial status should not dictate who can voice their opinions or acknowledge suffering.
As of now, Sheeran has not made any public statements following the departure of these supporting acts, and neither he nor the tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, has responded to requests for comments.