Key takeaways:
- Bryan wore a shirt reading “Free Palestine” during his Friday concert at Gillette Stadium.
- Kraft said Macklemore could not perform at Gillette with Sheeran, citing his recent actions and an alleged broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.
- Sheeran’s other opening acts withdrew after Macklemore’s removal; Sheeran’s September 25 and 26 Gillette concerts were later canceled because of a nor’easter.
Country singer Zach Bryan wore a “Free Palestine” shirt during a Friday concert at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, weeks after the venue’s owner, Robert Kraft, said rapper Macklemore could not perform there with Ed Sheeran. Kraft cited Macklemore’s recent actions and what he described as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.
Videos posted on social media showed Bryan, 30, wearing a black cutoff shirt during the first of two scheduled concerts at the stadium in Foxborough. CBS News reported that the shirt also read “An appeal to heaven” and displayed a pine tree logo. Some members of Bryan’s band wore shirts with similar messages, the outlet reported. Bryan’s second concert was scheduled for Saturday night.
“An appeal to heaven” dates to the Revolutionary War and appeared on Massachusetts’ official maritime flag until 1971, CBS News reported, citing a 2024 Associated Press article.
The concert followed a dispute over Macklemore, who had been scheduled to open for Sheeran at Gillette Stadium. Macklemore said he was removed from Sheeran’s tour at Kraft’s behest after speaking in support of Palestinians during shows in New Jersey. Kraft, who owns the New England Patriots and the stadium, said Macklemore would not be allowed to perform at Gillette.
“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,” Kraft said in a statement quoted by CBS News.
Kraft has said he did not want to stifle support for Palestinians but wanted to ensure a “welcoming environment” at the stadium, according to NBC News. Macklemore acknowledged in an Instagram post that “Antisemitism is real,” but said criticism of Israel and the words “Free Palestine” should not be conflated with hatred of Jewish people, CBS News reported.
Sheeran’s other opening acts — Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, Finneas and his house band, Beoga — withdrew after Macklemore’s removal, NBC News reported. CBS News said the supporting acts dropped out in solidarity with Macklemore. Sheeran later apologized for his handling of the matter.
“I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician,” Sheeran said, “but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet.”
Sheeran’s September 25 and 26 concerts at Gillette Stadium were canceled because of a nor’easter, CBS News reported. The outlet also reported that Macklemore pledged $1 million to support Palestinians and called on Kraft to match it. Kraft said he had already spoken to Sheeran about matching Sheeran’s own $2 million pledge.
Macklemore has since announced a Free Palestine Tour for the fall, NBC News reported. Gillette Stadium is not among its stops.
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