2 hours ago
22
Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, has revealed that Ed Sheeran directly asked him to match his $2 million aid donation after he had pro-Palestinian rapper Macklemore removed from the singer's tour.
Macklemore, whose real name is 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.
Shortly after the decision was made, the 43-year-old rapper took to Instagram to claim that Kraft, who is an observant Orthodox Jew, was the one who put forward an ultimatum to owners of other stadiums that Sheeran's tour would be visiting.
On Wednesday, Macklemore announced he would be donating $1 million – which he earned from Sheeran's tour – to Palestinian aid groups and urged Kraft to match it.
Shortly after, the Patriots owner shared a statement on social media in which he vowed to donate $2 million, though he was more vague about where the money would be going.
Kraft also claimed his plans to make the donation were spurred on by a crisis call from the embattled Sheeran and not in response to being publicly called out by Macklemore.
Robert Kraft has revealed Ed Sheeran asked him to match his $2 million aid donation and it wasn't in response to being called out publicly by Macklemore
Macklemore has been dropped from the remainder of Sheeran's LOOP Tour after sparking major backlash with his 'Free Palestine' speech earlier this month
Kraft, the 85-year-old chief executive of the Kraft Group, issued his own statement on the controversy.
'I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting,' the statement posted on Gillette Stadium's account read.
'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.
'In addition, I'd like the people who are speaking in support of the Palestinian people to know that for decades, I have supported efforts that create opportunities for Palestinians and have brought young Palestinians and Israelis together to build businesses, create jobs and forge relationships.'
In his post, Macklemore announced that he would be donating to six organizations serving Palestinians: Anera, Gaza Soup Kitchen, HEAL Palestine, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Palestine Children's Relief Fund and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA USA).
'With everything that has happened over the last 48 hours, I want to bring the conversation back to where it belongs: to the Palestinian people who are still being killed, still living under military occupation, and still fighting for their freedom,' Macklemore began his statement on Instagram.
'I will be donating the entire $1 million of my net earnings from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour to six organizations working directly to support the Palestinian people,' he continued. 'And I invite Robert Kraft to match my donation.
'Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting,' Macklemore stated. 'A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on this earth.'
Macklemore announced he will be donating $1 million – which he earned from Sheeran's tour
Kraft revealed he had talks with Sheeran, who asked the billionaire to match his donation
Macklemore and Kraft announced their donations just a day after Sheeran's opening acts on his tour all dropped out in protest over the rapper's removal from the live dates.
He was due to open for Sheeran at eight of the remaining ten shows on his tour in America, which continue on Saturday in Philadelphia, but on Tuesday it was announced that he had been dropped.
The drama started when Macklemore used his opening set at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5 to chant 'Free Palestine' and deliver a politically motivated speech.
'To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, it in no way is criticism of you,' he said during the New Jersey concert. 'This message is for peace, love, for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and equality.'
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.
Macklemore sparked fury after photos of him in an 'anti-Semitic Jewish costume' appeared
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.
Meanwhile, Greta Thunberg, a staunch pro-Palestine activist who was detained twice after traveling on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, has publicly backed Sheeran's 'cancellation', criticizing him in a statement shared online.
Taking to her Instagram on Tuesday, Thunberg said: 'We are witnessing one of the biggest artists in the world being canceled because they tried to "both sides" Israel's genocide against the Palestinian people.
'This is a clear and undeniable sign that the global consciousness has shifted. The normalization of an apartheid state, and the attempts to sanitize or justify its actions, will no longer be tolerated. Ed, there is only one victim here: the Palestinian people.'
And on Thursday morning, Irish radio station Classic Hits Radio announced it would be removing Sheeran's music from its playlist 'for the foreseeable future.'
Dave Kelly, group program director at Bay Broadcasting, said the move had been 'carefully considered' and was 'not intended as a personal judgment on Ed Sheeran.'
Kraft already has plenty of experience in crisis management after he was the subject of a shocking prostitution scandal in 2019.
The now 85-year-old was caught up in a prostitution sting after he and others were charged in a multi-county investigation of massage parlors that included the secret installation of video cameras in the spas' lobbies and rooms.
Kraft was caught up in a prostitution sting in 2019 and dealt with plenty of Patriots scandal
Police said the recordings showed Kraft and other men engaging in sex acts with women and paying them at the Orchids of Asia massage parlor in Jupiter, Florida
Police said that the recordings showed Kraft and other men engaging in sex acts with women and paying them at the Orchids of Asia massage parlor in Jupiter, Florida.
Kraft visited the Orchids of Asia day spa twice in a 24-hour span in January and was seen on surveillance video paying cash 'at the front desk to an Asian female,' police records claimed.
However, he pleaded not guilty and the charges were later dropped after a court ruled the surveillance videos were inadmissible due to privacy violations and unlawful police tactics.
'I am truly sorry,' Kraft said in a statement. 'I know I have hurt and disappointed my family, my close friends, my co-workers, our fans and many others who rightfully hold me to a higher standard.
'Throughout my life, I have always tried to do the right thing. The last thing I would ever want to do is disrespect another human being. I have extraordinary respect for women.'
He also dealt with the infamous 2007 'Spygate' saga, when Bill Belichick and Tom Brady's Patriots team was caught filming New York Jets coaches' hand signals from an unauthorized location during a game.
Then there was 'Deflategate' where Brady, who won six Super Bowls in New England, was suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season after being accused of ordering the deliberate deflation of footballs used in their win over the Indianapolis Colts in the 2015 AFC Championship game.
Meanwhile, just this summer, Kraft had to manage the fallout of an affair scandal involving his Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and prominent NFL reporter Dianna Russini.
