Ed Sheeran asked me to donate $2m in aid, Robert Kraft says after Macklemore backlash

The US stadium proprietor who had pro-Palestinian rapper Macklemore removed arsenic Ed Sheeran's opening enactment astatine his venue says Sheeran has asked him to donate $2m to "aid successful the region".

New England Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft announced the requested pledge successful his 2nd connection this week connected the controversy, without specifying wherever precisely the funds would go.

Kraft confirmed connected Monday helium had Macklemore dropped arsenic opening enactment from Sheeran's forthcoming Loop Tour astatine the Gillette Stadium adjacent Boston, accusing the rapper of hatred speech.

Facing a backlash, Sheeran has said the determination to driblet Macklemore was made by promoters and that helium would not beryllium drawn into a nationalist statement implicit Gaza.

On Wednesday, Macklemore said helium would donate $1m to Palestinian organisations, challenging Kraft to lucifer the sum.

In a connection aboriginal that day, Kraft, 85, said: "Earlier today, earlier Macklemore challenged maine to lucifer his donation, Ed called maine and asked maine to perpetrate $2 cardinal to lucifer his donation to assistance successful the portion to combat this humanitarian crisis.

"Ed present plans to scope retired to different venue owners and our extremity is to proceed to enactment unneurotic to physique bridges."

In the statement, which was issued by Gillette Stadium connected Kraft's behalf, helium said helium would similar those speaking successful enactment of the Palestinian radical to cognize that helium has agelong "supported efforts that make accidental for Palestinians".

He besides said that helium has worked to bring "young Palestinians and Israelis unneurotic to physique businesses, make jobs, and forge relationships".

"I person dedicated overmuch of my beingness to gathering bridges betwixt each people," Kraft said. "I judge profoundly that each lives are worthy protecting."

The proprietor of the Kraft Group, a sports and lawsuit absorption company, did not accidental whether helium had rallied different stadium owners to prohibition Macklemore from their venues, arsenic the rapper claims.

Macklemore - existent sanction Benjamin Haggerty - called for a "free Palestine" and showed images of devastation successful Gaza during 2 Sheeran concerts successful New Jersey earlier this month.

He was dropped connected Monday from Sheeran's line-up, conscionable days earlier the circuit was acceptable to resume successful Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, connected Saturday.

Sheeran, who performed astatine Kraft's 2022 wedding, said connected Tuesday helium was not liable for Macklemore being removed arsenic an opening enactment from the tour.

Kraft, who is Jewish, confirmed connected Monday that helium had made the determination to barroom Macklemore from the Gillette Stadium due to the fact that his venue would not "provide a level for hatred speech".

The tycoon accused the Grammy-winning rapper of having "a broader past of antisemitic rhetoric", which Macklemore denies.

He besides said the pro-Palestinian creator was "only sharing selective accusation and ignoring the actions of Hamas".

All the different enactment acts from Sheeran's US circuit person since discontinue successful solidarity with Macklemore.

They are Finneas, the member of popular prima Billie Eilish, Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe and Danish set Lukas Graham, arsenic good arsenic Irish people set Beoga, who execute with Sheeran connected signifier each night.

The artists argued that Macklemore's removal represented a chilling effect connected escaped speech.

Macklemore said connected Wednesday helium would donate the full $1m of his nett net from Sheeran's Loop Tour to six Palestinian organisations "to bring the speech backmost to wherever it belongs: to the Palestinian people".

"This is simply a manmade injustice, and I judge it requires contiguous governmental change," helium wrote connected societal media.