Entertainment News3 min(s) read
News of a huge request Ed Sheeran made has surfaced following a decision to drop pro-Palestinian rapper Macklemore from Ed Sheeran's upcoming stadium shows.
The situation began after stadium owner Robert Kraft banned Macklemore from performing at Gillette Stadium near Boston, citing comments the rapper made on stage during previous dates.
Macklemore had performed a song dedicated to pro-Palestinian protesters, referred to genocide in Gaza, and called for a free Palestine, leading Kraft to accuse him of hate speech and antisemitic rhetoric.
In response to Macklemore's removal, all of Sheeran's other scheduled opening acts dropped out of the tour in solidarity with the rapper. Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and the Irish folk band Beoga all chose to exit the lineup, with artists arguing that dropping the rapper created a chilling effect on free speech.
Promoters Messina Touring Group stated that Macklemore was removed because venues like Gillette Stadium would refuse to host the concerts if he remained on the bill, which would have forced the cancellation of the entire tour.
Sheeran clarified that the choice to drop the opener was made by his promoters rather than by him directly. He noted that he wished to avoid disappointing fans and crew members by scrapping the tour entirely.
The musician can still perform his set solo, even if the show needs to be adjusted due to the loss of backing musicians like Beoga. The singer's tour is currently set to resume in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Kraft revealed that Sheeran contacted him directly before Macklemore issued a public challenge over charitable giving. In his statement released by Gillette Stadium, Kraft noted, "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."
Kraft further explained the singer's outreach strategy moving forward. "Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges," Kraft stated.
Kraft did not confirm if he agreed to make the requested funding available or where those specific resources would be directed, while Sheeran himself has not publicly commented on personal financial contributions.
Macklemore had previously announced that he intended to donate his full net earnings from the tour, amounting to $1 million, to six Palestinian organizations. The rapper stated on social media that his goal was "to bring the conversation back to where it belongs: to the Palestinian people," adding that "This is a manmade injustice, and I believe it requires immediate political change."
The British singer-songwriter addressed the situation in a statement released earlier in the week. He expressed respect for "Macklemore's strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes," while explaining his own perspective on political commentary. He stated that avoiding political use of his public platform "doesn't mean I don't care" or "support causes in my own, personal way."
For his part, Kraft defended his past philanthropic work and addressed his stance on regional issues. "I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people," Kraft said. "I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting."
The stadium owner added that he has "supported efforts that create opportunity for Palestinians" and worked to bring "young Palestinians and Israelis together to build businesses, create jobs, and forge relationships." However, Kraft also criticized Macklemore, claiming the musician was "only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas."
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