Patriots Owner Kraft Cancels Rapper's Opening Act Over Antisemitic Remarks

Robert Kraft, the Jewish owner of the NFL's New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, has canceled rapper Macklemore's opening act for Ed Sheeran's upcoming concerts at the stadium on September 25 and 26. Kraft cited Macklemore's "history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery" in previous performances as the reason for the decision.

Macklemore's planned appearances were reportedly prompted by his performances at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium on September 4 and 5, where he expressed support for Palestinians and performed his song "Hind's Hall." In that song, he described Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide." Macklemore stated on stage that his criticism was not directed at Jewish people but was a message of "peace and love" and respect for all humans.

According to Macklemore, Sheeran informed him of Kraft's decision and that Kraft had also contacted other stadium owners, leading to Macklemore's removal from the entire tour. Production company Messina confirmed to Rolling Stone that they received notices from venues prohibiting Macklemore's performances, which would have resulted in the tour's cancellation and affected hundreds of thousands of fans.

Kraft clarified that his decision does not diminish the suffering of innocent Palestinians or deny the right to advocate for them. However, he argued that presenting partial information and ignoring Hamas's responsibility deepens hatred and division. Kraft invited Macklemore to a discussion, stating, "I would be happy to sit down with him and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same, peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hatred."