Patriots owner Robert Kraft pledges $2 million to Palestinian region at Ed Sheeran's request - USA Today

Robert Kraft is putting his money where his mouth is − and where the money of Ed Sheeran and Macklemore is also going.

The New England Patriots owner, who was a driving force behind Macklemore's removal from Sheeran's "Loop Tour 2026" earlier this week in response to the Grammy Award-winning rapper's pro-Palestinian comments during a Labor Day tour stop in New Jersey, is pledging $2 million to the war-ravaged Middle East region. Kraft made the announcement on social media on Wednesday, Sept. 16, just hours after Macklemore committed $1 million − his earnings from the Loop Tour − "to support the Palestinian people" and invited Kraft to match it. Per Kraft, Sheeran, who's previously steered clear of political positions, committed $2 million himself and asked Kraft to do the same.

"I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting," read a statement attributed to Kraft on the X account of Gillette Stadium, where the Patriots have played since 2002.

"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 continue to work together to build bridges."

Sheeran, one of the world's most popular musicians, has faced a severe backlash amid Macklemore's exit from the tour, which Sheeran characterized as the tour promoter's decision. His other supporting acts have also pulled out in support of Macklemore.

Earlier Wednesday, in a bid to put the focus back on suffering Palestinians instead of Sheeran's unraveling tour, Macklemore wrote on Instagram, "I want to bring the conversation back to where it belongs: to the Palestinian people who are still being killed, still living under military occupation, and still fighting for their freedom."

His $1 million donation will be divided among six organizations supporting Palestinian people. Tens of thousands of Palestinians, many of them children, have been killed during Israeli military operations in Gaza during the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, inside Israel's borders.

Kraft offered no detail about the destination of his donation nor Sheeran's.

"Whatever we disagree about," Macklemore wrote in reference to Kraft, "perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting. A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on this earth."

Kraft has admitted he did not want the rapper to share his pro-Palestinian agenda − which the Patriots owner deemed "hate speech" − at Gillette Stadium later this month.

Macklemore continued: "That is where my focus will remain. I will continue to stand with the Palestinian people and their fight for liberation.

"When the news cycle moves on, which it will, don't move with it.

Kraft, who is Jewish, referenced his efforts to help Palestinian people through the decades in his social media post on Wednesday and earlier this week.

“Gillette 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. 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," said Kraft.

"This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. 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, a United States and globally (including Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, and Japan) designated terrorist organization whose horrific actions have caused immeasurable suffering for Palestinians and Israelis alike. I agree with Macklemore. Too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate. Over many decades, I have directed resources to Palestine and created athletic and entrepreneurial opportunities for Palestinians who I admire and respect. Standing with the Palestinian people and standing against Hamas, antisemitism and hate should not be mutually exclusive.

"Much of my time and attention for the last decade has been focused on the fight against antisemitism and hate of all kinds, and I feel a responsibility to stand up when I believe that line has been crossed. I have tremendous respect for Ed and his music, particularly his unique ability to bring people together and spread joy, and I have always been proud to welcome him and his fans to Gillette Stadium.

"I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same – peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate.”

"The truth is, a big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I can stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine," Macklemore said on Sept. 4 at MetLife Stadium.

"I want those words to be loud and clear so the people all the way in Gaza, to the occupied West Bank, know that we have not forgotten about them."

The day after that show, the Israeli American Council shared an online petition that was addressed to Sheeran, 35, demanding he kick Macklemore off the tour.

Kraft's religious background has become intertwined with the Patriots through the years. He has taken numerous players, former Patriots and team staffers on trips to Israel, both to educate them on the region while also allowing them to serve as NFL and football ambassadors to the country.

"It was an unbelievable, once-in-a-lifetime kind of deal, and something I enjoyed," Super Bowl 53 MVP and former Patriots star Julian Edelman, who is part-Jewish, said in 2015. "It really put life in perspective, going there and seeing an unbelievable country and why it’s so special. It was kind of cool to have my official birthright trip with an unbelievable group of people that have already been to Israel to share that experience with me."

More recently, Kraft, Patriots' head coach Mike Vrabel and others in the organization have been regularly seen wearing Blue Square pins in support of the "Stand Up to Jewish Hate" campaign and Blue Square Alliance, which combats antisemitism.

MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Jets and Giants, hosted the Loop Tour on Sept. 4 and 5, when Macklemore's comments first garnered widespread attention, though he'd previously taken the pro-Palestinian position publicly. Sheeran is scheduled to play eight more shows (two at Gillette) at seven of the league's stadiums before the year is out. Per Rolling Stone, all seven venues objected to Macklemore's continued tour participation.

Messina Touring Group, which is promoting Sheeran’s show, told Rolling Stone in a statement on Monday: “As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour, we have been notified by venues on the upcoming U.S. tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans. After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates.”

▶ Sept. 19 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia

▶ Sept. 25/26 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts

▶ Oct. 3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta

▶ Oct. 10 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

▶ Oct. 17 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte

▶ Oct. 24 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas

▶ Nov. 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa