Musician says Patriots owner Robert Kraft banned him from playing at stadium

Macklemore, who has been touring recently with Ed Sheeran, posted to Instagram on Monday, Sept. 14, that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft leaned on Sheeran to remove Macklemore from the lineup due to the “Free Palestine” position he has expressed at recent shows.

Sheeran’s “Loop Tour 2026” is scheduled to play at Gillette Stadium, home of the Patriots and owned by Kraft Group, on Sept. 25 and 26. Macklemore, who shared his “Free Palestine” sentiments earlier this month at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside New York City, has now been removed from the tour.

Per Macklemore, Kraft, who is Jewish, contacted Sheeran and told him the rapper “would not be allowed” to perform at Gillette, and that the shows would be canceled if Macklemore was not dropped. Per Macklemore, Kraft also told Sheeran that other stadiums would drop the tour if Macklemore was not removed from the lineup.