Macklemore's Free Palestine statement fallout

Colin Kaepernick accused Patriots owner Robert Kraft and other NFL owners of 'openly colluding' to push Macklemore off Ed Sheeran's US tour after the rapper voiced pro-Palestinian views on stage, drawing a direct parallel to his own claim that owners conspired to keep him out of the league after his 2016 anthem protests. Macklemore said Sheeran told him Kraft objected to his appearance at Kraft-owned Gillette Stadium and contacted other stadium owners after the rapper said 'Free Palestine,' criticized ICE and performed a Gaza protest song at a prior tour stop; Kraft confirmed Macklemore would not perform at Gillette but said the decision was about what he called Macklemore's history of antisemitic rhetoric, not suppressing Palestinian advocacy. Tour promoter Messina Touring Group then dropped Macklemore from the remaining dates after other venues objected, and several supporting acts withdrew in the fallout. Macklemore pledged to donate the roughly $1 million he earned from the tour to organizations supporting Palestinians and invited Kraft to match it; Kraft said Sheeran had separately asked him to contribute $2 million to humanitarian relief. Kaepernick, whose own collusion grievance against the NFL was settled confidentially in 2019 without a ruling on its merits, said the episode shows owners will 'organize against you' to protect their interests.