New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft committed a massive $2 million for humanitarian aid, directly matching a huge donation from Ed Sheeran. This isn’t your typical philanthropic news, either, as the money drop comes in the chaotic aftermath of a major dispute with rapper Macklemore, all centered around Palestine. A wave of backlash hit both Sheeran and Kraft just days ago, and it’s clear this whole situation is still unfolding.
The “Loop Tour” Gets Rocked After Macklemore’s Statement
So, what even happened? It all started when Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, dropped a statement saying he got yanked from Sheeran’s “Loop Tour.” He claimed it was because of things he said while performing as an opening act. Before Kraft’s big announcement, Macklemore publicly challenged the Patriots owner, asking him to match a $1 million donation to groups helping Palestinian people. Kraft quickly shot back, clarifying he was matching Sheeran’s $2 million donation and that Sheeran is actually reaching out to other venue owners to get them on board with similar aid efforts. Kraft also made sure to say he’s been working for decades to support Palestinians and bring them together with Israelis.
It turns out the whole dispute blew up after Macklemore, who’s been vocal about the Israel-Palestine issue for years, declared “Free Palestine” before performing “Hind’s Hall” at MetLife Stadium on September 4. That song is pretty critical of the Israeli military, by the way. The very next night, after some backlash, he got back on the same stage and addressed his “Jewish brothers and sisters,” saying, “Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, is in no way a criticism of you.” He’s even apologized for an antisemitic costume in the past, so this isn’t his first rodeo with controversy.
The Fallout: Accusations Fly and The Tour Collapses
A week after that MetLife stadium drama, Macklemore revealed he was officially off Sheeran’s tour. He didn’t just stop there, though. Macklemore claimed Kraft demanded his removal before the tour even hit the Patriots’ Gillette Stadium. Worse, he said Sheeran told him Kraft had “rallied some of the other stadium owners” to issue an “ultimatum” that Macklemore needed to be fully removed from the entire tour. We don’t know who those other stadium owners are, though.
Both Sheeran and Kraft immediately put out their own statements to counter Macklemore’s version of events. Kraft cited “a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery” from Macklemore as one of his reasons for the action, and even extended an invite to the rapper to “sit down” with him. And get this: the whole saga triggered a mass exodus from the “Loop” tour. Aaron Rowe, Finneas, and Lukas Graham, all the remaining opening acts, announced they were stepping away on Tuesday, and Sheeran’s backing band, Beoga, followed suit. It’s a total mess out there.
So, what’s next? The $4 million in humanitarian aid from Kraft and Sheeran is a massive commitment, but the public dispute continues to simmer. This isn’t just a music tour controversy; it’s a high-stakes situation where major figures are facing off, and the humanitarian side of it is still very much in play.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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