Robert Kraft says Ed Sheeran asked him to match $2M donation in aid

Robert Kraft, the US stadium owner who had Macklemore removed from Ed Sheeran's tour after 'free Palestine' remarks, says Sheeran asked him to match his own $2M (€1.74M) donation for "aid in the region."

This came after Macklemore said he would donate $1M (€871,650) to Palestinian organisations, challenging Kraft to match him.

"I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people," Kraft wrote in a statement posted to Gillette Stadium's social media on Wednesday. "I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting.

Kraft then went on to say that Sheeran had called and asked him to match his own $2M donation in aid, before Macklemore publicly did so.

"Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges.

"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 opportunity for Palestinians and have brought young Palestinians and Israelis together to build businesses, create jobs and forge relationships."

Kraft did not confirm whether he agreed to make the donation or where the funds would go. This is the first time it has been suggested Sheeran had donated that sum.

Statement from Robert Kraft pic.twitter.com/as3f4RUKse

— Gillette Stadium (@GilletteStadium) September 16, 2026

On Monday, he confirmed he had banned Macklemore from performing during Sheeran's shows at Gillette Stadium.

Kraft, who is Jewish, accused the American rapper of hate speech during two of his previous support slots where he called for a free Palestine.

Meanwhile, support for Macklemore has continued to grow, with Irish radio station Classic Hits Radio announcing that it is removing Sheeran's music from its playlist "for the foreseeable future."

"We acknowledge [Sheeran's] own explanation of the circumstances surrounding recent events," said Dave Kelly, Group Programme Director at Bay Broadcasting, asserting that the move had been "carefully considered" and was "not intended as a personal judgement on Ed Sheeran."

"As an independent Irish-owned radio station, we believe it is important to listen to our audience and to stand alongside Irish artists who have made what is undoubtedly a significant professional decision based on their own convictions."

The controversy began after Macklemore joined the British singer for two shows at MetLife stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5. There, he called for a free Palestine, playing his protest track, 'Hind's Hall', while showing images of Gaza onscreen.

Following the shows, the Israeli-American Council created a petition calling for his removal and he received backlash from other artists.

Subsequently, Macklemore issued a statement reaffirming his message and confirming that he had been dropped from the tour. Sheeran then followed up with his own statement, asserting that the decision was made by the tour promoter, not him, and caused by an ultimatum given by Kraft. He avoided taking a political stance.

All of the remaining support acts on Sheeran's tour have since quit and several artists have shown their solidarity with Macklemore, including Massive Attack, Finneas, BIIRD, Sheeran's backing band, Beoga, and more.