{
  "id": 7551686,
  "title": "Pro-Israel billionaire Robert Kraft led campaign to drop Macklemore from Ed Sheeran tour",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/pro-israel-billionaire-robert-kraft-led-campaign-to-drop-macklemore",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T12:29:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/pro-israel-billionaire-robert-kraft-led-campaign-drop-macklemore-ed-sheeran-tour"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Billionaire New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft spearheaded a campaign to remove rapper Macklemore from Ed Sheeran's tour, following Macklemore's public condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza. Kraft, who is also a fan of Gillette Stadium, threatened to withhold use of his venue if Macklemore remained on the tour. Ed Sheeran subsequently informed Macklemore that Kraft and other stadium owners had given him an ultimatum. Macklemore acknowledged that Kraft had rallied other stadium owners and that he would not be allowed to perform at their venues if he stayed on the tour. The billionaire owner, a passionate advocate for Israel, once led a group of hall of famer American footballers on a tour of Israel and publicly stated that he is more passionate about the State of Israel than anything else in his life. Critics argue that Kraft's decision to drop Macklemore from the tour was motivated by political bias and a desire to silence free speech.",
  "summary": "Pro-Israel billionaire Robert Kraft led campaign to drop Macklemore from Ed Sheeran tour Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Tue, 09/15/2026 - 12:35 New England Patriots owner rallied other stadium owners against rapper after he condemned Israel’s genocide of Palestinians Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, on the field during practice prior to Super Bowl LX at Stanford Stadium on 4…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Rapper Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran's US tour after pro-Palestinian remarks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/rapper-macklemore-dropped-from-ed-sheerans-us-tour-after-pro",
        "published": "2026-09-14T22:20:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran tour sparks debate over political speech",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/macklemores-removal-from-ed-sheeran-tour-sparks-debate-over-political",
        "published": "2026-09-15T13:32:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour for pro-Palestinian sentiments onstage",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/macklemore-dropped-from-ed-sheerans-tour-for-pro-palestinian",
        "published": "2026-09-15T14:14:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}