New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft intends to donate $2 million toward causes supporting people impacted by the war in Gaza, he announced in a statement Wednesday.
The donation is intended to match a similar one made by Ed Sheeran, whom Kraft recently demanded drop Macklemore as the musician’s opening act at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., following Macklemore’s comments in support of Palestinians earlier this month. Macklemore claimed Kraft convinced other venue owners to do the same.
On Wednesday afternoon, Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, announced he would donate the $1 million in earnings he received to open for Sheeran to groups aiding Palestinians. His statement challenged Kraft to do similarly. The Patriots owner wrote in his statement posted later that day that Sheeran had already asked him to make a $2 million contribution, matching one Sheeran also announced Wednesday.
“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. Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges,” Kraft’s statement said.
Statement from Robert Kraft pic.twitter.com/as3f4RUKse
— Gillette Stadium (@GilletteStadium) September 16, 2026
Macklemore’s announcement said his funds would go toward the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, Heal Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, UNRWA USA National Committee and Anera, a refugee aid group focused on the Middle East. Kraft, however, did not specify who will receive his matching donation.
Kraft has been a vocal financial supporter of Israel for decades and founded multiple nonprofits organized to fight antisemitism.
After Macklemore revealed that Kraft barred him from performing at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots owner issued his own statement confirming the rapper had been banned. The statement also referred to Macklemore’s “broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.”
During the tour’s Sept. 4 stop at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Macklemore decried the war in Gaza during his opening set and urged leaders to “Free Palestine.” The statements came during a performance of the protest song “Hind’s Hall,” which the rapper wrote about Israeli soldiers’ 2024 killing of Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old girl in the Gaza Strip. Footage of Israeli soldiers was contrasted with fleeing Palestinian civilians and rubble, with Macklemore saying, “To my Jewish brothers and sisters: Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, in no way is a criticism of you.”
The dispute over Macklemore’s removal from the tour led other Sheeran openers, such as Finneas Eilish, Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe, to drop out of the Loop Tour in solidarity.
Sheeran’s upcoming performances include a Saturday concert at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, followed by consecutive nights at Kraft’s Gillette Stadium on Sept. 25 and 26. Ticketmaster has not listed any replacement openers for the shows.