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Stadium owner Robert Kraft says Ed Sheeran asked him to donate $2m in aid after Macklemore backlash
Kraft said Sheeran asked him to match the donation as Macklemore pledged $1 million and all of Sheeran’s support acts later quit the tour.
- On September 14, promoter Messina Touring Group dropped rapper Macklemore from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour after venues threatened to cancel shows following his pro-Palestinian remarks at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
- New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft barred Macklemore from Gillette Stadium, citing a "broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery" he deemed offensive to the Jewish community. Macklemore alleged Kraft rallied other stadium owners to issue an ultimatum.
- Donating $1 million in net earnings to six Palestinian relief organizations, Macklemore publicly invited Kraft to match the gift, stating, "Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting."
- Billionaire Kraft pledged $2 million for humanitarian aid, stating Ed Sheeran requested the match beforehand; Sheeran maintained removing Macklemore was the promoter's decision, not his own.
- All remaining supporting acts—including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and Beoga—withdrew from the tour in solidarity. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned that concentrated power among venue owners poses a dangerous precedent for silencing political speech.
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328 Articles
In the middle of the whirlwind around Macklemore's tour exclusion, Ed Sheeran makes headlines. According to Robert Kraft, the singer already wanted to donate two million dollars to Palestine.
·Berlin, Germany
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The fact that Andreas Gabalier expressed himself in the "Krone" interview on political debates makes some people angry. And due to the divided opinions on the Gaza conflict, Ed Sheeran could have to go on tour without supporting acts. This once again raises the question of how much political opinion has room on the concert stage. What do you think about it?
·Vienna, Austria
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources328
Leaning Left70Leaning Right37Center108Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 33%
C 50%
R 17%
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