American billionaire Robert Kraft has revealed that British pop star Ed Sheeran asked him to commit two million dollars toward humanitarian relief in the Middle East. The disclosure comes in the wake of a mounting controversy surrounding Sheeran's North American concert tour and the sudden removal of opening act Macklemore.
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, was recently dropped from the lineup at Gillette Stadium near Boston. Stadium owner Robert Kraft stated that he made the decision to bar the rapper because the venue would not host individuals who engaged in hate speech. During earlier performances in New Jersey, Macklemore had chanted slogans calling for a free Palestine and displayed imagery depicting destruction in Gaza.
Following his removal, Macklemore pledged to donate one million dollars—representing his entire net earnings from the tour—to six Palestinian organizations. The rapper also challenged Kraft to match that financial commitment.
Shortly after that challenge was issued, Kraft released a statement detailing a prior conversation with the British singer. According to the stadium owner, Sheeran called him earlier in the day to request a two-million-dollar donation to assist with the humanitarian crisis in the region. Kraft added that the musician intended to approach other venue owners in an effort to secure further contributions and foster dialogue.
Kraft has not yet confirmed whether he will provide the requested funds or specified where the money would be distributed. Representatives for Sheeran have not publicly addressed the reported donation or any broader philanthropic initiatives related to the matter.
The decision to drop Macklemore has created significant turbulence for the remainder of the tour. Several other supporting acts, including Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and Beoga, have withdrawn from the schedule in solidarity with the rapper. These artists expressed concern that the removal of their colleague sets a troubling precedent for freedom of expression in the music industry.
For his part, Sheeran stated that he was not personally responsible for removing Macklemore from the bill, noting that the decision was handled by promoters. The singer has sought to distance himself from the public dispute, maintaining a focus on his performances as the tour prepares to resume in Philadelphia.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC News. Read the original report at BBC News.
