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Ed Sheeran is reportedly donating $2 million in response to the controversy surrounding rapper Macklemore’s removal from his tour after pro-Palestinian comments during a performance. The billionaire stadium owner, Robert Kraft, who was involved in removing Macklemore, has also pledged an unspecified amount of money but did not specify where it would be directed. Following this, Macklemore announced plans to donate $1 million from the tour's earnings to support Palestinians and challenged Kraft to match his donation. The controversy centers around claims that pro-Israel groups pressured stadium owners to drop Macklemore from Sheeran’s tour.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Ed Sheeran, after Macklemore was removed from his tour for making pro-Palestinian comments in New Jersey on September 4-5, reportedly asked billionaire stadium owner Robert Kraft to donate $2 million to aid Palestinians. In response, Kraft pledged the same amount without specifying where the funds would go. Macklemore had previously announced plans to donate $1 million from his earnings from the two shows he performed on Sheeran’s tour to support Palestinian causes. The controversy began when Kraft decided to drop Macklemore as an opening act for Sheeran's upcoming concerts at Gillette Stadium, claiming the rapper's comments were hate speech against Israel.
Written for “Ed Sheeran Gaza Aid Controversy” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.35 for article 14820 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-17
Ed Sheeran reportedly donating $2M to 'aid in the region' amid Macklemore fallout
uncertain
Sheeran → donate → fallout
Macklemore pledges $1M to pro-Palestinian causes after tour ouster over comments
The billionaire stadium owner who allegedly led efforts to remove Macklemore as Ed Sheeran's opening act over his pro-Palestinian comments onstage is now donating $2 million US to "aid in the region."
uncertain
who → pledge → region
The news came shortly after Macklemore announced plans Wednesday to donate $1 million US from his net earnings from the tour to six organizations helping Palestinians — including the UN agency for Palestinian refugees — and challenged Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft to do the same.
asserted
Macklemore → come → same
While Kraft did not specify in his statement where his funds would be going, and a spokesperson did not clarify, he said Sheeran had asked him to match a $2 million US donation from Sheeran "before Macklemore challenged me."
asserted
Macklemore → specify → me
He also said that he wanted 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."
Benjamin Hammond Haggery, better known as Macklemore, opened for Sheeran for the first two U.S. shows on the Loop Tour on Sept. 4 and 5 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
asserted
Haggery → say → Jersey
He was slated to open for the remaining eight of Sheeran's 10 U.S. shows, but announced in a lengthy Instagram post on Monday that he'd been dropped from the tour.
asserted
he → slat → tour
Macklemore's onstage remarks at MetLife — including chanting "Free Palestine" and expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank — drew criticism from pro-Israel groups, including a petition calling for his removal.
asserted
remarks → include → removal
Macklemore blamed his removal on Kraft, claiming Kraft said Macklemore would not be allowed onstage and rallied other stadium owners to threaten to cancel scheduled concerts if he was not taken off the bill.
asserted
he → blame → bill
Sheeran released his own statement on Tuesday, defending his choice not to take a public stance and saying he is "appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine."
asserted
he → release → Israel
In the statement, Sheeran said, "Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine.
asserted
it → say → tour
In response, Sheeran's remaining supporting acts all quit the tour.
asserted
acts → remain → tour
The Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe were scheduled to replace Macklemore as the opening acts on Sheeran's remaining U.S. tour dates.
asserted
band → schedule → dates
Finneas, the American singer and close collaborator of his sister Billie Eilish, was scheduled to open for Sheeran on four of his South American dates.
asserted
Finneas → schedule → dates
Beoga, an Irish folk band, had been performing with Sheeran for part of his set since the tour began in January in New Zealand.
asserted
tour → perform → Zealand
"Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed," Finneas wrote.
asserted
Finneas → silence → oppressed
Graham also appeared to take a veiled shot at Kraft, writing: "Money doesn't give you the right to own the conversation.
asserted
Money → appear → conversation
Nobody's bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we're allowed to acknowledge."
asserted
we → decide → suffering
Sheeran hasn't posted since those supporting acts left the tour, and his representative didn't respond to an emailed request for comment.
asserted
representative → post → comment
The promoter, Messina Touring Group, also hasn't responded to requests for comment.
asserted
promoter → respond → comment
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