{
  "id": 7581172,
  "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-7581172",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-15T15:24:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/pro-israel-billionaire-robert-kraft-led-campaign-drop-macklemore-ed"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "US rapper Macklemore was removed from the Ed Sheeran tour after he referred to \"Free Palestine.\" The campaign to remove him was spearheaded by billionaire Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium. Kraft threatened to prevent Sheeran and his team from utilizing his stadium, and he enlisted the support of other stadium owners throughout the nation to halt the tour. Macklemore stated, \"Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium.\"",
  "summary": "Pro-Israel billionaire Robert Kraft led campaign to drop Macklemore from Ed Sheeran tour In a statement shared on Instagram, US rapper Macklemore confirmed that “Ed Sheeran and his team” had dropped him from the tour after he said “Free Palestine ”. The campaign to remove Macklemore from the tour was driven by billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, who…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-09-15T12:29:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "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": "RTE News",
        "title": "Kneecap back Macklemore after Ed Sheeran tour removal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/kneecap-back-macklemore-after-ed-sheeran-tour-removal",
        "published": "2026-09-15T13:55:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "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"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran speaks out after Macklemore dropped from tour",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheeran-speaks-out-after-macklemore-dropped-from-tour",
        "published": "2026-09-15T15:48:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran says it was 'not my decision' to drop Macklemore from tour",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheeran-says-it-was-not-my-decision-to-drop-macklemore-from-tour",
        "published": "2026-09-15T16:01:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Billboard",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran Says Decision to Drop Macklemore From Tour ‘Was Not Mine’: ‘I Have Spent This Week Trying to Build Bridges’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheeran-says-decision-to-drop-macklemore-from-tour-was-not-mine-i",
        "published": "2026-09-15T16:15:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran says decision to drop Macklemore was not his",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheeran-says-decision-to-drop-macklemore-was-not-his",
        "published": "2026-09-15T16:53:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Deadline",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran Weighs In On “Promoter’s Decision” To Drop Macklemore From Loop Tour; Details Efforts “Trying To Build Bridges”",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheeran-weighs-in-on-promoters-decision-to-drop-macklemore-from",
        "published": "2026-09-15T17:18:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}