New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft shot back at Macklemore after he challenged him to match a $1 million donation he is making to organizations providing aid to Palestinians, the latest escalation in a dispute that saw the artist booted from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour.
On Wednesday, Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, said in a statement on Instagram that he would donate $1 million in his net earnings from Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organizations supporting Palestinians. In the post, he invited Kraft to match the donation.
Kraft countered later that day, saying in a statement that Sheeran had already asked him to match the singer’s own $2 million commitment to humanitarian aid in the region “to fight this humanitarian crisis.”
The exchange marked the latest clash between the artist and the billionaire owner of Gillette Stadium, which began after Macklemore made pro-Palestinian comments during two September opening performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
At the MetLife shows, Macklemore repeatedly said “Free Palestine” and criticized Israel’s conduct in Gaza. Several advocacy groups then criticized Macklemore, and the Israeli American Council called for him to be removed from the tour. Macklemore, for his part, said his criticism of Israel shouldn’t be interpreted as criticism of Jewish people.
In a Monday Instagram post, Macklemore said Sheeran told him personally that Kraft had barred him from Gillette Stadium following the MetLife shows, and that he had rallied other stadium owners to take the same position. Kraft later confirmed that he would not allow Macklemore to perform at Gillette, saying the decision was based on Macklemore’s recent actions and what Kraft described as “a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery” that he said “has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.”
Messina Touring Group, which is promoting the tour, also confirmed in a statement to multiple outlets that several venues said having Macklemore in the lineup was a red line and, as such, the promoter removed him from remaining U.S. tour dates. Messina Touring Group has not yet responded to Fortune’s request for comment.
“Taking a side can cost you. Money, brand deals, sponsorships, festivals, private shows, relationships and access. I’ve lost all of those things. But there is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed,” Macklemore wrote in his Instagram post Monday.
The fallout
The dispute over Macklemore’s comments is drawing attention to the issue of who can say what on some of the world’s biggest stages. Some politicians like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have called Kraft’s interjection censorship, but as a private venue owner, Kraft can decide who is not allowed in Gillette Stadium.
The fallout from Macklemore’s removal has since spread. Other supporting artists scheduled to appear during Sheeran’s tour, including Billie Eilish’s music-producing brother Finneas, Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, and Danish band Lukas Graham, have all dropped out in solidarity. Beoga, the Irish group performing as part of Sheeran’s show, also dropped out.
Sheeran, for his part, said the decision to remove Macklemore wasn’t his own and that he “spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution and unfortunately, was unable to do so.”
Kraft echoed Sheeran’s language in his Wednesday statement, saying he has for decades supported efforts aimed at creating opportunities for Palestinians.
“I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting,” he wrote in a Wednesday post.
Kraft also said in his Wednesday statement that Sheeran is reaching out to other venue owners where he is scheduled to perform to encourage them to contribute to humanitarian aid in the region.
Still, Sheeran, who has often tried to maintain a neutral stance on political issues, is now at the center of controversy, despite efforts to distance himself. Some ticket holders have since asked for refunds following the change to the tour’s lineup.
The North American leg of Sheeran’s tour runs through Nov. 7 in Tampa, Fla and his next show is set for Sept. 19 in Philadelphia. Other than Kraft, none of the other venue owners appear to have made public statements about the Macklemore controversy other than to note a change in the lineup.
