Macklemore Donates $1M in Ed Sheeran Tour Earnings to Palestinian Aid, Calls on Robert Kraft to Match It

Macklemore has announced that he will donate the entire $1 million he earned from Ed Sheeran's canceled Loop Tour to six organizations that directly support the Palestinian people. In a message posted on Wednesday, the rapper challenged Robert Kraft to match his donation, calling on the billionaire to take a stand against the "Free Palestine" debate that has surrounded Sheeran's tour.

Macklemore stated that he believes "Palestinian lives are worth protecting" and emphasized that "a Palestinian life is no less valuable than another life on this earth." The controversy began when several tour opener venues pulled out of the Loop Tour in solidarity with Palestinians, leading to Macklemore's removal from the tour.

Ed Sheeran later explained that his decision was not his own, as he had spent the week trying to "build bridges." Kraft, who allegedly pressured tour venues to drop Macklemore, called the rapper's statements "deeply offensive" and claimed that Gillette Stadium should not be used as a platform for "hate speech." The six organizations that will receive Macklemore's donation are the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, the UNRWA USA National Committee, and Anera.