Surprise $2 million move from the man who fired Macklemore from Ed Sheeran show
Updated . First published
NFL Patriots owner Robert Kraft – the man who pulled Macklemore from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour over his “free Palestine comments” – has made a surprising $2 million donation to organisations supporting Palestine.
It comes after Macklemore challenged the billionaire businessman to match his own $1 million donation. Though Kraft revealed that before Macklemore’s invitation, Sheeran was the first to call and ask him to donate.
Owner of New England Patriots Robert Kraft doubled Macklemore’s $1 million donation to support the Palestinian people. Getty/Jane Gershovich
Kraft owns Gillette Stadium which was one of the stadiums due to host Sheeran’s tour.
In a statement released on the Gilette Stadium X account, Kraft said: “I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people.
“I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting. 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.
“Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continued to work together to build bridges.”
Statement released from Robert Kraft X
Kraft went on to say that he has supported efforts to bring Palestinians and Israelis together for decades.
“I have supported efforts that create opportunity for Palestinians have brought young Palestinians and Israelis together to build businesses, create jobs, and forge relationships,” Kraft’s statement concluded.
The details around Kraft’s donation stop there, with no clear details about where the donation will go.
Kraft reportedly started a pressure campaign after Macklemore said, “Free Palestine” and expressed support for Gaza on stage.
“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 gave him an ultimatum: ‘If Macklemore stays on tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues’,” Macklemore previously said.
Kraft confirmed he opposed Macklemore performing two shows at his stadium later this month, but did not address the alleged rallying of other owners.
Sharing a statement on Instagram, the rapper explained that with everything that had happened in the last 24 hours, he wanted to bring the conversation back to where it belongs – the Palestinian people.
“That is what this has always been about. Not me. Not a tour. Not the headlines or the controversy. It is about Palestinians and the right to freedom, dignity and safety in their homeland,” read part of his statement.
Macklemore has stuck by his on-stage comments, despite them costing him the tour. Getty
In the caption, Macklemore also tagged the organisations he is supporting, and urged others to do the same if they are able to.
Kraft’s donation came just hours after Macklemore’s post online.
Fans want refunds as ticket resales soar
Concert goers and ticket holders have flooded X with posts about the situation in recent days, asking if Ticketmaster will be offering refunds.
“Hey @Ticketmaster so @edsheeran is no longer having @macklemore on his tour we purchased these tickets when @macklemore was on the setlist and we would like to cancel our tickets for a full refund please and you can sell them to someone else! Thanks :),” one fan posted.
Another X account tagged Ticketmaster and posted, “[…] Are you also offering refunds for people who don’t want to go to a concert where an artist was kicked off a tour for speaking their mind? Because it’s only fair. But my guess is that you’re not gonna do that, huh?”
Someone else suggested that anyone who has tickets to the shows should just flat out ask for their money back.
Read more
Ed Sheeran’s $100 million gamble: What is Macklemore’s tour removal really going to cost him?
Other users posted that it will make a stand to have empty seats, rather than resold tickets, and those who don’t agree with the situation should simply not go.
“Empty seats will impact his tour a lot more than resold tickets. It’ll affect merch sales and venue profits too. Keep the tickets, don’t attend,” read one post on X.
There has also reportedly been a surge in tickets being put up for resale, since the removal of Macklemore from the tour.
Nine.com.au has contacted Sheeran’s management for comment.
According to Ticketmaster, there are still a lot of tickets available for his next show, with Sheeran set to hit the stage on September 19 in Philadelphia.
Macklemore’s “free Palestine” comments saw him removed from the tour, and the backlash against Sheeran has been swift. Getty
Sheeran’s online following takes a huge hit
The response to Sheeran from fans has been swift, with the singer losing over 200,000 Instagram followers and counting in the wake of Macklemore’s firing from his tour.
Fans have lashed out at the Shape of You hitmaker in the days since the announcement about Macklemore.
Macklemore was due to open for Sheeran at eight of the remaining 10 shows on his tour in America, but on Tuesday it was announced that he had been dropped, over his “free Palestine” comments.
Macklemore performed as an opener at Sheeran’s New Jersey shows on September 4 and 5, and was scheduled for eight additional dates before his removal. Getty
Sheeran’s Instagram followers have dropped from 47.6 million on Monday, to now sitting at 47.3 million.
Every remaining opening act has also pulled out of the tour, many taking to social media to share statements about the decision and backing Macklemore in the process.
Ed Sheeran issues a statement about the backlash
Sheeran broke his silence in a post shared on his Instagram account on Wednesday, captioned: “It’s important that I set out some facts.”
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me,” he wrote in the lengthy statement online.
Sheeran said he would not be drawn into public debate about Israel and Palestine.
Ed Sheeran issued a lengthy statement following Macklemore’s removal. Part of it is pictured. Instagram/@teddysphotos
“I have always used my platform and music to bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together and this won’t ever change,” he said, adding that his shows were about “unity” and “escapism”.
“I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict,” he continued.
“Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care. Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own, personal way.”
