NFL owners were allegedly assured Macklemore wouldn't mention Palestine during the second night of Ed Sheeran's tour stop at MetLife Stadium ... but he did anyway, according to a new report.
According to The Wall Street Journal, several NFL team owners complained about Macklemore's pro-Palestinian messaging following the first night of the New Jersey shows. WSJ sources say the owners were assured he would remove all references to Palestine from his second night performance ... but he ultimately kept them in.
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The report does not identify who made that promise to the owners. Macklemore later blamed New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft for drawing a line in the sand and getting him removed from the tour.
Robert Kraft is taking Macklemore up on his challenge to donate $1 million to help Palestinians ... and Kraft is doubling it.
The New England Patriots owner says Ed Sheeran called him before Macklemore publicly challenged him to match his $1 million donation to Palestinian relief groups ... and says he committed $2 million to aid in the region.
Kraft says Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners as they try to work together on humanitarian relief.
Colin Kaepernick says the way Robert Kraft and his fellow NFL stadium are treating Macklemore echoes his own situation when he knelt during the national anthem ... and he hopes others will finally see what he's been saying all along.
The former NFL quarterback appeared on "The MeidasTouch Podcast" in an episode published Wednesday ... and he discussed Macklemore being booted from Ed Sheeran's tour.
Colin says Kraft and other stadium owners working together to silence Macklemore proves they are willing to collude. He made collusion claims during his own controversy, but folks weren't buying it back then.
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Macklemore is putting his money where his mouth is ... pledging to donate the $1 million he earned on Ed Sheeran's "Loop" Tour to Palestinian relief groups ... and challenging Robert Kraftto match him.
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And Macklemore made sure Kraft got the message ... writing, "Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting" ... before inviting the Patriots owner to match the $1 million donation.
Rep. Randy Fine is firing back at the free-speech defense of Macklemore ... saying the rapper can spew all the "antisemitic garbage" he wants, but nobody has to give him a stage.
Charlie caught up with the Florida congressman Wednesday, one day after AOC told us Robert Kraft and other stadium owners were trying to silence Macklemore over his pro-Palestinian comments.
Fine sees it very differently ... pointing to Macklemore's infamous 2014 costume -- a bushy wig and beard with a large prosthetic nose -- and saying that history matters when looking at the controversy now.
Roger Waters ripped Ed Sheeran a new one for kicking Macklemore off his tour over the singer's pro-Palestine views, going so far as to call Ed a "prick!"
The Pink Floyd legend unloaded on Ed in a video he posted on X and, in classic Roger fashion, the rocker didn't hold back one bit, kicking things off with a graphic that mockingly read, "Ed Who?"
Roger then appeared on screen and dove into his "little message" for Ed, saying there are 2 types of people in this world. First, Roger said, there are those who do the right thing, like the rapper Macklemore. Then Roger stated there are sadly others who are "pricks' like Ed, who do the wrong thing.
Charlie caught up with the congresswoman from New York on Tuesday ... and, just like he asked Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Charlieasked her a few questions about Macklemore's unceremonious ousting from Ed's tour.
AOC's taking Tlaib's advice ... she's boycotting Ed because she says he's complicit in Robert Kraft and other stadium owners' efforts to silence Macklemore.
Ed Sheeran's tour just got a whole lot more empty ... with Finneasnow being the newest artist to call it quits on joining the Irish singer's crew, amid Macklemorebeing booted for his "Free Palestine" comments.
Finneas -- song-writer and brother to Billie Eilish -- was set to open for Sheeran for 6 shows in his South American leg in late November and early December ... however, Finneas announced his decision to drop out after Macklemore was kicked off the tour on Monday.
The singer took to Instagram saying "Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people."
Rep. Rashida Tlaib is raking Ed Sheeran and Robert Kraft over the coals after Macklemore was kicked off Ed's tour for his pro-Palestine rhetoric ... telling us she has no respect for Ed or Kraft.
Charlie caught up with the Representative from Michigan on Tuesday ... and she says she instantly lost respect for Ed when he dropped Macklemore from his remaining tour dates amid mounting pressure.
Rep. Tlaib says it always feels like Palestinians are always an exception ... claiming other groups get full-throated support during humanitarian crises -- but not Palestinians.
Ed Sheeran is breaking his silence after Macklemore called him out for kicking him off his tour ... and he says he's not to blame because he didn't make the final call.
The singer took to social media Tuesday, writing, "I am appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy."
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Ed said Macklemore asked him to be a part of the tour, and he agreed because he respects “him as an artist.” He said he allows his opening acts to play their own setlist.
Ms. Rachel is slamming Ed Sheeran for kicking Macklemore off his tour as his opening act following backlash over Macklemore's pro-Palestine remarks.
The popular children's creator, who has received heat for supporting Palestine, criticized Ed in a social media post ... claiming the singer "had an opportunity to show that we won't be bullied into punishing people for supporting Palestine."
She said Ed "caved to people who refuse to accept what the world knows. A genocide is happening in Gaza."
Ms. Rachel added, "We all need to speak out against it."
Robert Kraft is firing back at Macklemore ... confirming to TMZ he did not want the rapper performing at Gillette Stadium and accusing him of crossing the line with antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.
Macklemore claimed Monday Ed Sheeran told him Kraft objected to his involvement in the tour after his pro-Palestine comments at MetLife Stadium went viral ... and Kraft says there was a reason.
Kraft tells TMZ ... "Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech."
12:32 PM PT --Robert Kraft has fired back at Macklemore ... accusing him of crossing the line with antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.
Macklemore says Robert Kraft and a group of other stadium owners basically shut the door on him ... he claims the New England Patriots owner told Ed Sheeran the singer could not play at his venue if Macklemore was involved.
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In a lengthy statement shared to Instagram on Monday, Macklemore says Ed told him Kraft called after the rapper's pro-Palestine comments at MetLife Stadium went viral ... with Kraft allegedly saying Macklemore would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium, which Kraft owns.
Macklemore claims Kraft then got other stadium owners on board ... and Ed was handed an ultimatum -- drop Macklemore or lose access to their stadiums.
Macklemore is being sent home from Ed Sheeran's tour after catching major heat over his pro-Palestine onstage remarks ... and the show will go on without him.
Rolling Stone reports Macklemore has been dropped from the remaining tour dates ... after several venues allegedly told the tour they would not allow him to perform.
As TMZ previously reported, Macklemore caused a stir during Ed's MetLife Stadium stop earlier this month ... telling the crowd "Free Palestine" before performing his protest song "Hind's Hall."
