Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, says that singer Ed Sheeran reached out to him to request a $2 million donation to humanitarian efforts in the Middle East. According to Kraft, this proposal arrived after rapper Macklemore, who had been serving as an opening act for Sheeran’s tour, publicly challenged the billionaire to match a $1 million donation pledged to Palestinian causes.
The controversy surrounding the concert series escalated after Kraft acknowledged removing Macklemore—whose legal name is Benjamin Haggerty—from the lineup for an upcoming Gillette Stadium performance. Kraft accused the rapper of engaging in hate speech during prior New Jersey tour dates, citing Macklemore’s calls for a “free Palestine” and his decision to project images of destruction in Gaza during his stage performance.
Writing on behalf of his sports and event management company, the Kraft Group, the stadium owner stated on Wednesday: “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 added that Sheeran intends to engage other stadium owners to continue “working together to build bridges.”
Despite these claims, Kraft did not explicitly confirm whether he has formally agreed to provide the $2 million donation or disclosed the specific intended beneficiaries of the funds. This marks the first public suggestion that Sheeran has personally committed a donation of this magnitude to the region.
Sheeran himself has remained silent regarding any specific philanthropic contributions or personal donation plans. Previously, the singer clarified that he was not responsible for the decision to drop Macklemore from the tour, noting that the choice was made by event promoters. The removal of the rapper has led to wider fallout, with several other supporting artists withdrawing from the tour in protest.
In a statement issued by Gillette Stadium, Kraft addressed the criticism regarding his position on the conflict. He emphasized his history of supporting initiatives that create opportunities for Palestinians, stating he has long worked to connect young Palestinians and Israelis to foster business growth and professional relationships.
“I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people,” Kraft said, adding his belief that “all lives are worth protecting.” However, the statement did not address reports that Kraft had pressured other venue owners to ban Macklemore from their locations.
The tour, which had been set to resume in Philadelphia this Saturday, remains under scrutiny following the departures of multiple support acts. Sheeran, who maintained a professional relationship with Kraft by performing at his 2022 wedding, has indicated he wishes to avoid becoming mired in a public debate over the situation in Gaza. The report also notes that it came after Macklemore said he would donate $1m (£750,000) to Palestinian organisations, challenging Kraft to match him.
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