Patriots' Robert Kraft issues statement following Macklemore's forced exit from Ed Sheeran's concert - GMA Network

Following Macklemore's revelation that he has been dropped from Ed Sheeran's shows at the Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts later this month, Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of New England Patriots responded confirming the news.

USA Today Sports was able to obtain and publish his full statement, where Kraft first said the venue does not provide an opportunity 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," Kraft said.

In his statement, he said the decision isn't about "diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians" but that Macklemore's "advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community."

While Kraft made clear that he agrees with Macklemore about all the lives lost from the war, he also said that "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," Kraft said.

On Morning morning (Manila time), Macklemore took to social media to announce he's been dropped from Ed Sheeran's shows later this month.

"Last Monday, in the middle of all the media attention surrounding Pink and what I said at MetLife, Ed told me that Robert Kraft called him," Macklemore narrated on Instagram.

"Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to peform in his stadium. Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: If Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues," he continued.

At MetLife during a concert last September 4, Macklemore made pro-Plastinian comments and "free Palestine" remarks.

The American rapper has long ben pro-Palestinian and a critic of Israel's assault on Gaza and its occupation of the West Bank. — LA, GMA News