Macklemore is putting his money where his mouth is and taking further action after speaking up for Palestine during Ed Sheeran’s tour and facing backlash from Robert Kraft, and more. As he vows to donate $1 million, Kraft offers to double the pledge.
As we previously shared, the U.S. rapper took to the stage with a pro-Palestine speech during the September 5th stop in New Jersey on Sheeran’s ‘Loop Tour.’
Two days later, he uploaded a full clip of the speech and it went viral. However, on September 14, Macklemore was pulled from the tour. Subsequently, he spoke out again on social media. Following Macklemore’s termination, several celebrities took a stance with him.
Additionally, on September 15, Sheeran’s Irish band, Beoga, pulled out of his tour — standing in solidarity with Macklemore. Then, several more opening acts pulled out. This included: Finneas, Danish band Lukas Graham, Irish act Aaron Rowe.
As reports suggested Sheeran’s tour could face a possible cancellation, he spoke out. He condemned “the conflict between Israel and Palestine,” and clarified that he venues on his upcoming tour dates threatened to pull his shows if Macklemore continued to publicly speak out about Palestine. One of those venues was Gillette Stadium, owned by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
Kraft even released a statement after Macklemore’s initial actions. It read:
“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. 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 tans 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.”
Well, fast forward to September 16 when Macklemore pledged $1 million to Palestinian people. He said he’d give up his entire net earnings from Sheeran’s tour to save the lives of those in Gaza.
“With everything that has happened over the last 48 hours, 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. I will be donating the entire $1 million of my net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organizations working directly to support the Palestinian people. And I invite Robert Kraft to match my donation. Whatever we disagree about, 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. That is what this has always been about. Not me. Not a tour. Not the headlines or the controversy. It is about Palestinians right to freedom, dignity and safety in their own homeland. I want to center the parents carrying their children into hospitals without the basic resources to treat them, and the physicians, paramedics, journalists and aid workers who keep going back in. I want to center the organizers and activists who have paid real costs for standing with Palestine. Their risk is of a far different order than mine. Just yesterday, 15 year old Muhammad al Zinati was killed in an Israeli strike while rushing to help aid worker Sherif Lubbad, who had already been injured. He was a child. Both were murdered. Both should be alive. And the ones still under the rubble, whose names exist only in the memories of people who may not have survived to speak them. Writing a check is one of the least costly forms of solidarity available to me. I am doing it because I can, and because these organizations are doing the work while much of the world debates it. But aid alone cannot address the conditions that make it necessary. This is a manmade injustice, and I believe it requires immediate political change. Palestinians have lived for decades without basic rights and should not have to wait another day to be free. 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. Free Palestine.”
As scrutiny continued for Sheeran and Kraft, the latter released another statement. He said he and Sheeran are both planning to donate to Palestine, with Kraft doubling Macklemore’s $1 million pledge.
“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 continue to work together to build bridges. In addition, l’d like the people who are speaking in support of the Palestinian people to know that for decades, I have supported efforts that create opportunity for Palestinians and have brought young Palestinians and Israelis together to build businesses, create jobs, and forge relationships.”
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