Patriots' Kraft on Macklemore: No platform for hate speech

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who also owns Gillette Stadium, stated on Monday that he had rapper Macklemore removed as an opening act for singer Ed Sheeran's concerts at the venue scheduled for later this month. Kraft emphasized that the stadium "has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech."

Kraft explained, "Based on Macklemore's recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran's shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line."

During his performances at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 4 and 5, Macklemore expressed pro-Palestinian views regarding the war in Gaza, advocating for Palestinian freedom and performing his protest song "Hind's Hall," which described Israel's actions in the region as "genocide." This controversy escalated following the attack on Israel by Hamas-led militants from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in around 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 individuals. Israel launched a retaliatory offensive that led to the death of tens of thousands of Palestinians and rejected accusations of genocide from various organizations and experts.

Macklemore, 43, reported on social media that Sheeran informed him Kraft would not allow him to perform at Gillette Stadium. He also noted that Sheeran mentioned Kraft had influenced other stadium owners to take similar actions, leading to Macklemore's removal from the tour.

In response to the backlash, Kraft, who is Jewish, clarified that his decision "is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf."

Kraft stated, "Their pain and loss are real. But that advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas..." He continued by highlighting his long-standing commitment to combating antisemitism and expressing a desire to engage in a constructive dialogue with Macklemore about their shared goal of promoting peace.

Sheeran's tour is set to perform at various venues, including Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, among others. The promoter, Messina Touring Group, confirmed to Rolling Stone that venues had communicated their decisions regarding Macklemore, which could jeopardize the tour and affect hundreds of thousands of fans.