Macklemore pledges $1 million to Palestinian relief, challenges Robert Kraft to match it

Macklemore is donating $1 million of his earnings to Palestinian relief organizations following his removal from Ed Sheeran’s tour and he’s invited New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to do the same.

In an Instagram post Wednesday, Macklemore said he wanted to “bring the conversation back where it belongs.” He specified that the money was the entirety of his net earnings from Sheeran’s tour, and that it would go to six organizations working to support Palestinians.

“Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protection,” Macklemore wrote. “A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any life on this earth.”

The statement comes just two days after Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, announced he’d been dropped from Sheeran’s tour after venues threatened to cancel shows in response to Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian performance.

Kraft was among those who said Macklemore would not be welcome at his Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, according to Macklemore and Sheeran. Macklemore further alleged Kraft “rallied” the other stadium owners to give Sheeran an ultimatum.

Sheeran confirmed in a statement Tuesday that Kraft was among the venue representatives who’d reached out with concerns over Macklemore’s performance. Kraft did not deny Macklemore’s allegations when he gave a statement to NBC News on the matter.

In his statement Monday, Kraft said he was not trying to stifle Palestinian advocacy or diminish the suffering of Palestinians.

The decision, he said, was reached after comments Macklemore made at the tour’s New Jersey shows and “a broader history of rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.”

“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,” Kraft said.

The NFL owner added that he agreed with Macklemore that there has been too much suffering, and noted that he has spent decades “directing resources” to Palestinians.

“Standing with the Palestinian people and standing against Hamas, antisemitism and hate should not be mutually exclusive,” Kraft said.

The backlash began earlier this month when Macklemore joined Sheeran’s tour at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Before performing “Hind’s Hall,” a protest anthem he released in 2024, he gave a speech to the crowd.

According to video posted by Macklemore, he told the crowd that part of why he wanted to be on the tour was to be able to be in stadiums to say “Free Palestine.” He also made clear that his criticism of Israel’s government was not directed at people of Jewish faith.

The clip drew controversy and criticism, including from fellow artist Pink, who is Jewish. She put out a statement Friday explaining why she reposted a social media post critical of Macklemore’s performance.

Pink wrote she was not trying to get any artist fired or silence anyone, but that she took issue with Macklemore putting “violent images” of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza up in a stadium filled with families, then telling Jews in the audience that “it wasn’t about them.”

Pink also referred a 2014 incident in which Macklemore wore a costume that appeared to play on antisemitic tropes: a wig, fake beard and hooked nose, worn to the Grammys that year. He said at the time he thought it would be fun to dress in disguise to talk to fans.

Macklemore apologized after the antisemitic stereotype was pointed out, saying he’d been in touch with the Anti-Defamation League, an organization founded to combat antisemitism. The ADL accepted the apology at the time, saying it took him “at his word that he did not have any ill intent,” according to the Guardian.

The organizations Macklemore says he will donate to are: Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA) and United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugee.

He wrote that the donations are the least costly forms of solidarity and that his focus will remain on Palestinian people. Their right to freedom, dignity and safety is “what this has always been about,” Macklemore said.

“When the news cycle moves on, which it will, don’t move with it,” he wrote. “Free Palestine.”

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