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Zach Bryan Wears Palestine Shirt Amid Macklemore Venue Dispute
Zach Bryan performed at Gillette Stadium on Friday.
He wore a shirt that said “Free Palestine” and also showed a pine tree and the words “An appeal to heaven.”
Some of his band members wore similar shirts.
The concert happened weeks after Macklemore was barred from performing at the stadium.
Macklemore had been removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour after making pro-Palestinian comments at a concert.
Stadium owner Robert Kraft said Macklemore’s actions and past material could hurt the Jewish community.
Macklemore said that criticizing Israel and supporting Palestine is not the same as hating Jewish people.
He pledged money to support Palestinians, and Kraft said he had discussed a donation pledge with Sheeran.
Zach Bryan wore a “Free Palestine” shirt during his Friday concert at Gillette Stadium.
The shirt also displayed “An appeal to heaven” and a pine tree logo; some band members wore similar shirts.
Bryan’s appearance came weeks after Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour and barred from performing at Gillette Stadium.
Robert Kraft said Macklemore’s recent stage material and broader history of rhetoric and imagery were deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.
Macklemore said criticism of Israel and support for Palestine should not be conflated with antisemitism; he pledged $1 million for Palestinians, while Kraft said he had discussed matching Sheeran’s $2 million donation pledge.
- Who
- Zach Bryan, with some members of his band; the dispute also involves Macklemore, Ed Sheeran, and Robert Kraft.
- What
- Bryan wore a “Free Palestine” shirt at a concert, weeks after Macklemore was barred from performing at the venue.
- Where
- Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
- When
- Friday; Bryan’s second Gillette Stadium concert was scheduled for Saturday night.
- Why
- The shirt’s message came amid controversy over Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s tour and his exclusion from the venue following pro-Palestinian comments.
Kraft’s rationale
Macklemore’s response
Macklemore’s exclusion from the venue
Kraft’s rationale
Robert Kraft said Macklemore’s recent actions and broader history of rhetoric and imagery were deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, and that his participation would cross a line.
Macklemore’s response
Macklemore said antisemitism is real but argued that criticism of Israel and saying “Free Palestine” should not be conflated with hatred of Jewish people.
Key facts
- Performer
- Zach Bryan
- Venue
- Gillette Stadium
- Shirt messages
- “Free Palestine” and “An appeal to heaven,” with a pine tree logo
- Second concert
- Scheduled for Saturday night
- Macklemore donation pledge
- $1 million to support Palestinians
- Ed Sheeran donation pledge
- $2 million
- Kraft’s stated concern
- He said Macklemore’s recent stage material and broader history of rhetoric and imagery were offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.
Quotes
Robert Kraft
New England Patriots owner who also owns Gillette Stadium
“Based on Macklemore's recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran's shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line”
livemint.com
Sources
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