The crisis that began with Macklemore’s (Seattle, 43 years old) departure from Ed Sheeran’s (Halifax, 35 years old) North American tour due to his open support for Palestine has resulted in a race of donations for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. The rapper announced on social media that he will allocate one million dollars (871,330 euros) to six organizations supporting Palestinians, the money he earned as net profits from his performances on the Loop Tour. In that same message, he challenged businessman Robert Kraft (Brookline, Massachusetts, 85 years old), owner of Gillette Stadium and responsible for the artist’s ban, to do the same. “I invite you to match my donation,” the artist tells the businessman in his Instagram statement.
Kraft — the person responsible for forcing Macklemore’s exit from the British singer’s tour — responded that he had already agreed to contribute two million dollars, along with another two from the English composer (which would total around 3,500,000 euros), after Sheeran called him to ask for it, even before Macklemore made his challenge public, according to his version. The British singer also intends, he assured, to contact other stadium owners to increase the fundraising.
Macklemore announced the donation this Wednesday on his social media, two days after his departure from the tour became known. The rapper had performed as the opening act for Sheeran at the concerts on September 4 and 5 at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey. During the first, he gave a speech in support of the Palestinians while showing images of the destruction of Gaza by Israel and asked the audience to chant “Free Palestine.” After those performances, several venues announced they would not allow his participation in the following dates.
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The discussion has brought Robert Kraft’s name to the center of the controversy. The businessman owns Gillette Stadium in Foxborough (Massachusetts), where two of Sheeran’s upcoming performances were scheduled. Kraft opposed Macklemore performing at the venue and justified his decision due to the rapper’s recent statements and other previous episodes that, according to the businessman, included “antisemitic rhetoric and images.”
Sheeran was caught in the middle of the dispute. The singer stated on Tuesday, also on social media, that the decision to remove Macklemore was not his but that of the promoters and the tour venues, and explained that he had tried to talk with the parties to find a solution. He also said he was “horrified” by the conflict between Israel and Palestine, although he defended his decision not to turn his concerts into a political platform and advocated for a neutral position.
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Macklemore has now decided to turn the earnings from that tour into a direct response to the controversy. The one million dollars will be distributed, as he announced, among Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, Heal Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, UNRWA USA National Committee, and Anera. The rapper challenged Kraft and said that despite their differences, they could both agree that “Palestinian lives deserve to be protected.”
Statement from Robert Kraft pic.twitter.com/as3f4RUKse
— Gillette Stadium (@GilletteStadium) September 16, 2026
The magnate has not specified which organizations his contribution will go to nor given details on how the money will be distributed. He did use the statement to recall his work in initiatives aimed at bringing Palestinians and Israelis closer and to affirm that he has dedicated much of his life to “building bridges” between communities. He also noted that Sheeran plans to contact other venue owners and that both want to continue working to “build bridges.”
The new phase of the dispute comes after several musicians linked to the tour — Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and Beoga — announced their withdrawal in solidarity with Macklemore. Sheeran’s Loop Tour now continues through the United States and is scheduled to move to South America, where new dates are planned until the end of the year.
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