NFL owner dragged into Macklemore’s ‘Free Palestine’ scandal as rapper reveals billionaire’s ‘ultimatum’ that saw him kicked off Ed Sheeran tour

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been accused of orchestrating the decision to remove Macklemore from Ed Sheeran’s nationwide tour, after the rapper sparked major backlash with a ‘Free Palestine’ speech while on stage. 

On Monday, it was confirmed that the 43-year-old, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, will not go on with the show after several major US venues notified tour promoters they would not allow the rapper to perform.

The enormity of the venue bans could have forced an entire tour cancellation impacting thousands of fans. So, as a result, Macklemore was removed.

However, shortly after the decision, the ‘Thrift Shop’ hitmaker took to Instagram to break his silence on the matter and claimed that Kraft – who is an observant Orthodox Jew – was the one who put forward the ultimatum to other stadium owners.

In a lengthy Instagram post, Macklemore said: ‘Ed is my friend. I’ve known him for 13 years. I told Ed multiple times on the phone, our friendship can’t change my responsibility to tell the truth about what happened [in Gaza].

‘Ed told me that Robert Kraft called him. We were scheduled to play Gillette Stadium later this month, which is owned by the Kraft Group. Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium. 

‘Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.

‘I hope this isn’t the end of my relationship with Ed. Thirteen years of friendship doesn’t disappear because of one painful disagreement. 

‘I hope we both continue listening, studying what is happening in Palestine and wrestling with what neutrality means in a moment like this. My door will always be open to continuing that conversation.’

The drama started when Macklemore used his opening set to chant ‘Free Palestine’ and deliver a politically motivated speech.

Macklemore, whose words were slammed by Pink, stated that every human being deserves the same freedom, and told the crowd he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten.

He then performed his protest song Hind’s Hall while images of the devastation in Gaza were projected on the big screens at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Macklemore also faced a boycott petition calling for his removal from Sheeran’s tour for the blunt and direct language he used onstage.

He was the opening act for Sheeran’s Loop tour on two consecutive nights, September 4 and September 5, at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.

Macklemore has also previously voiced support for Palestinians and called out Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and has continued doing so for years.

As seen in fan-taken footage, he wore a keffiyeh at one point during his set.

Meanwhile, the rapper’s allegation against Kraft come just days after it was revealed that the Patriots chief had donated $10million to Brandeis University to put towards the creation of the ‘Robert K. Kraft Family Center for Jewish Life and Leadership’.

In a statement provided to the university, Kraft said: ‘Brandeis University’s longstanding commitment to excellence, belonging, and Jewish traditions and values has shaped generations of leaders.

‘The Kraft family has always been proud to support Brandeis and I am pleased to strengthen the work of the university and create a Hillel on campus to help educate and inspire students to carry forward the university’s mission.’ 

More to follow…