Macklemore says he was dropped from Ed Sheeran tour after Patriots owner organized boycott, tell me about this news in (https://www.nbcnews.com/video/macklemore-says-he-was-dropped-from-ed-sheeran-tour-after-patriots-owner-organized-boycott-269842501640)

The story centers on rapper Macklemore being dropped from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran’s U.S. “Loop Tour” following controversial onstage remarks and an alleged push by stadium owners. The GuardianBackground and Onstage RemarksDuring a tour stop at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Macklemore addressed the crowd between songs to express solidarity with people in Gaza and the West Bank, chanting “Free Palestine” and displaying imagery related to the conflict. The performance drew criticism from several organizations, including the Israeli-American Council and StopAntisemitism, as well as fellow musician Pink, who argued that an 80,000-seat pop concert was not the appropriate place for one-sided political rhetoric. The Guardian+ 1Allegations Involving Robert KraftFollowing the controversy, the tour’s promoter, Messina Touring Group, announced that venue operators had objected to Macklemore’s presence on the lineup and that he would no longer perform on the remaining tour dates. Ground NewsIn a detailed social media statement, Macklemore claimed that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose company owns Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, personally pressured Ed Sheeran. Macklemore alleged that Kraft called Sheeran and rallied other stadium owners across the country to deliver an ultimatum: either remove Macklemore from the tour, or Sheeran would be barred from playing in their venues. Ground NewsRobert Kraft’s StatementKraft subsequently confirmed that Macklemore was barred from performing at Gillette Stadium. In statements addressing the situation, Kraft indicated that the decision was based on Macklemore’s recent stage presentation as well as past rhetoric and imagery that he viewed as offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, emphasizing his ongoing public campaigns against antisemitism. Al Jazeera+ 1Macklemore’s PerspectiveMacklemore stated that the decision came after difficult conversations with Sheeran, whom he described as a longtime friend placed in a very tough spot. He insisted that neither he, Sheeran, nor other high-profile artists are victims, noting that they have wealth and safety, and maintained that he stood by his public advocacy for Palestinian civilians regardless of the professional fallout. The Guardian+ 1