Robert Kraft announced that rapper Macklemore was barred from performing at Gillette Stadium on September 25 and 26, following comments supporting Palestine. Kraft cited Macklemore’s advocacy for Palestine and what he termed "antisemitic rhetoric" as reasons for the ban. In response, Macklemore claimed in an Instagram post that Ed Sheeran had removed him from his tour due to pressure from venue owners like Kraft, who allegedly threatened to cancel shows if Macklemore remained on the lineup. The article does not provide further details or confirmations beyond these claims and Kraft’s statement.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after comments supporting Palestinians and criticizing Israel at concerts in New Jersey. The decision came following pressure from venues, reportedly organized by Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, who said Macklemore's performances would not be allowed due to "antisemitic rhetoric." Kraft stated that the venue does not provide a platform for hate speech and accused Macklemore of being divisive. In response, Macklemore posted on Instagram defending his right to support Palestinians and calling attention to 20,000+ lives lost in Gaza during Israel's military actions. The controversy highlights the divide between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli advocacy within the music industry. Sheeran has not yet commented on who will replace Macklemore for the remaining shows.
Written for “Macklemore Dropped From Tour” on 2026-09-15,
grounded in this article and the 7 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.40, but none of the 2 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 9618: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-15
Billionaire Robert Kraft has confirmed that Macklemore has been barred from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, after the rapper said his support for Palestine led to his being dropped from pop star Ed Sheeran’s tour.
asserted
his → confirm → tour
Kraft said in a statement received by Al Jazeera on Monday that Macklemore’s recent performances and what he described as a “broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery” led Gillette Stadium, which is owned and operated by the Kraft group, to determine that his appearances there on September 25 and 26 “would cross that line”.
asserted
appearances → say → line
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“This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf,” Kraft said.
asserted
Kraft → die → behalf
“But that advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas … whose horrific actions have caused immeasurable suffering for Palestinians and Israelis alike.”
asserted
actions → come → Palestinians
Kraft’s statement came after Macklemore claimed Sheeran informed him that Kraft was barring him from performing at Gillette Stadium.
asserted
Kraft → come → Stadium
Macklemore also alleged that Kraft had rallied other stadium owners to issue an ultimatum: “If Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.”
asserted
you → allege → venues
Kraft did not directly address the claim that he had contacted other stadium owners.
uncertain
he → address → owners
Macklemore made the allegations in a lengthy Instagram statement on Monday, the same day promoter Messina Touring Group confirmed that venues had refused to host upcoming shows with the rapper on the lineup.
asserted
venues → make → lineup
“I’m not sure how to start this.
asserted
I → start → this
So I’m going to speak from the heart and share the truth,” Macklemore wrote.
asserted
Macklemore → go → truth
“Ed Sheeran and his team have made the decision to remove me from The Loop tour.”
asserted
Sheeran → make → tour
But Macklemore said neither he nor Sheeran, nor singer Pink, who had reposted criticism of his performance, were the victims in the controversy.
asserted
who → say → controversy
Messina Touring Group, the tour promoter, confirmed Macklemore’s removal from the tour in a statement to Rolling Stone magazine on Monday.
asserted
Group → confirm → Monday
“We have been notified by venues on the upcoming US tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans,” the Messina Touring Group said.
asserted
Group → notify → fans
“After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates.”
asserted
Macklemore → perform → dates
Al Jazeera has not independently verified Macklemore’s account, and neither Sheeran nor his press office has commented.
uncertain
Sheeran → verify → account
‘I don’t take sides’
asserted
I → take → sides
Macklemore described Sheeran as a close friend of 13 years and said the two had several difficult conversations over the past week.
asserted
two → describe → week
“He couldn’t get past his public-facing, ‘I don’t take sides,’” Macklemore wrote, referring to Sheeran’s reluctance to take a public stance on Israel’s war on Gaza.
asserted
Macklemore → get → Gaza
The controversy began after Macklemore’s performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5, where he repeatedly voiced support for Palestinians and performed Hind’s Hall, his protest song inspired by the pro-Palestinian student movement.
asserted
he → begin → movement
The Israeli American Council later launched a petition calling for Macklemore to be removed from Sheeran’s tour.
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Macklemore → launch → tour
Pink also reposted criticism of the performance that called for an apology and ticket refunds.
asserted
that → reposte → apology
Macklemore argued that performing alongside one of the world’s biggest artists had made his advocacy more threatening to those who opposed it.
asserted
who → argue → it
“If I kept doing the shows, saying Free Palestine, with Ed implicitly supporting it, the crowd getting loud and showing undeniable support for Palestinian liberation, what artist might speak out next?” he wrote.
uncertain
he → keep → liberation
He said he hoped the dispute would not end his friendship with Sheeran, but made clear he did not regret speaking out.
asserted
he → say → Sheeran
“Free Palestine,” he said.
asserted
he → say → ?
The Aporia
