Dave Portnoy blasts 'anti-Semitic' Macklemore and his 'shady past' as he backs Patriots owner Robert Kraft in Ed Sheeran tour drama

Dave Portnoy has blasted Macklemore and thrown his support by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft after the rapper was kicked off Ed Sheeran's world tour following his 'Free Palestine' speech.

Macklemore, aka Benjamin Haggerty, was dropped after he delivered a politically motivated speech in support of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank during his performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5. 

However, shortly after the decision, the 'Thrift Shop' hitmaker took to Instagram to break his silence on the matter and claimed that Kraft, who is an observant Orthodox Jew, was the one who put forward the ultimatum to other stadium owners.

Now Barstool Sports chief Portnoy, who is also Jewish and a Patriots fan, slammed Macklemore in a lengthy video posted on social media. He criticized those who have claimed the decision to remove him from the tour was censorship and denying him free speech.

An angry Portnoy said: 'Bob Kraft I'm sure did what I did when I saw this. He researched Macklemore and it didn't take long to learn Macklemore has a pretty shady past. 

'He already, at a prior concert, dressed wildly anti-Semitic and he did a Hitler symbol. He had to apologize, "oh, sorry about that" but still its like "huh, maybe this free Palestine thing he's doing is a little more deep-seated hatred than what he's making it seem like."

'He's also a 9/11 truther and was yucking up with Hasan Piker. He's kind of insinuated George Bush was responsible for the towers going down. Not great. 

'He also blamed or called what was going on in Gaza a genocide 12 days after the attacks. Twelve days after Israel responded, he was already saying it was a genocide. Now keep in mind he's not mentioning the 2,000 innocent Jews who got murdered, raped, slaughtered when Hamas invaded Israel. 

'If you don't know, Bob Kraft has spent the last 10 years of his life aggressively fighting anti-Semitism and hate. I've been to Gillette Stadium. They have an anti-Semitism war room where they track all the hatred that's going on in the country. He's spent millions fighting hatred. That's who Bob Kraft is and he owns Gillette Stadium.

'Macklemore, this anti-Semitic, 9/11 truther who is now turning this into a political rally, you're going to come into Bob Kraft's house and spit in his face? No f***ing way. That's not censorship. 

'Everyone is like "oh Bob Kraft got Macklemore fired, that's censorship and freedom of speech". This ain't freedom of speech homie. He owns the stadium. It's his house. Would you have a party and invite somebody over who's just going to spew what you consider hatred?'

'Macklemore, you're the opener for Ed Sheeran. People are buying Ed Sheeran tickets. If I'm a Jew and I love Ed Sheeran, I do like Ed Sheeran, and I go to the concert I don't want to hear a "Free Palestine" rant from a guy who I don't think is being genuine about it at all.

'I just think he's a guy who doesn't think Israel has the right to exist. I don't want to f***ing hear that when I go to the Ed Sheeran concert. I didn't pay to hear Macklemore give me a political speech. I paid to hear Ed Sheeran sing.

'Now if Macklemore is the headliner and you know what you're getting and you want to hear his political rants and the concert venue knows what they're getting then do it. That's not this. This is an Ed Sheeran concert at a venue owned by Bob Kraft. Bob Kraft would never sign up for f***ing Macklemore. So quit talking about censorship.'

The drama started when Macklemore used his opening set to chant 'Free Palestine' and deliver a politically motivated speech.

Macklemore, whose words were slammed by Pink, stated that every human being deserves the same freedom, and told the crowd he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten.

He then performed his protest song Hind's Hall while images of the devastation in Gaza were projected on the big screens at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

On Thursday, Macklemore sparked fresh fury after photos of him wearing an 'anti-Semitic Jewish costume' resurfaced online.

The images show Macklemore wearing an oversized prosthetic nose, a black beard and a shaggy black wig during a 2014 performance in Seattle.

The costume was criticized for resembling an anti-Semitic caricature of a Jewish man. Macklemore apologized at the time, saying he had no malicious intention and was unaware that the costume resembled a Jewish stereotype.

People online have accused Macklemore's pro-Palestinian activism of being part of something more sinister, pointing to his controversial costume and a circulating image that appears to show him making a Nazi salute while dressed in it. 

Shortly after Macklemore's statement, Kraft issued his own response. In a statement received by The Daily Mail, the Patriots owner said: 'Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech. 

'Based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line.

'This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. Their pain and loss are real. 

'But that advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas, a United States and globally (including Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, and Japan) designated terrorist organization whose horrific actions have caused immeasurable suffering for Palestinians and Israelis alike. 

'I agree with Macklemore. Too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate. 

'Over many decades, I have directed resources to Palestine and created athletic and entrepreneurial opportunities for Palestinians who I admire and respect. Standing with the Palestinian people and standing against Hamas, antisemitism and hate should not be mutually exclusive.

'Much of my time and attention for the last decade has been focused on the fight against antisemitism and hate of all kinds, and I feel a responsibility to stand up when I believe that line has been crossed. I have tremendous respect for Ed and his music, particularly his unique ability to bring people together and spread joy, and I have always been proud to welcome him and his fans to Gillette Stadium.

'I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same – peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate.'