Founder of Bar Stool Movement Dave Portnoy give him support Robert Kraft New England Patriots owner suspended McLemore from Gillette Stadium, stopping him from opening Ed Sheeran Later this month.
Portnoy, 49, wrote via
Kraft, 85, announced in a statement on Monday, September 14, that McLemore, 43, was not welcome at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, which he owns, after the rapper called for a “Free Palestine” during a performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Subsequently, Macklemore (real name Benjamin Hagerty) was controversially dropped from Sheeran’s tour entirely.
Earlier this month, Macklemore opened for Sheeran, 35, to perform his protest song “Hind’s Hall,” which denounces Israeli military actions in Gaza. During the performance, the stadium’s video board showed disturbing images of the destruction in Gaza.
“McMoore has a pretty dark past,” Portnoy said on Wednesday’s X-Video, referring to previous incidents with the “Thrift Shop” singer, including a 2014 concert in which he wore clothing on stage that was widely seen as anti-Semitic. The costume included a black wig, fake mustache and a large hooked nose.
Macklemore later apologized for the outfit, saying: “I would never intentionally disparage anyone because of the fabric that makes them who they are. I love humanity, originality, and… the occasional odd outfit.”
Portnoy continues in the film, “Twelve days after the attack, he was still blaming or calling what was happening in Gaza a ‘genocide’… Now remember, he didn’t mention the 2,000 innocent Jews who were murdered, raped and massacred when Hamas invaded Israel.”
Kraft has long been a staunch supporter of Israel, which Portnoy noted is reflected inside Gillette Stadium.
“If you didn’t know, Bob Craft spent the last ten years of his life actively fighting anti-Semitism and hatred,” he said. “I’ve been to Gillette. They have an anti-Semitism war room where they track all the hate that’s going on in this country. He spent millions of dollars.”
Portnoy then asked, “You’re going to walk into Bob Craft’s house and spit in his face? This isn’t censorship… This isn’t free speech, man. He owns the stadium. This is his house. Are you willing to throw a party and invite someone over who just spews what you think is hate?”
McLemore remains true to his beliefs, saying in a statement on Monday that his criticisms were directed at the Israeli government, not the Jewish people or the Israeli people. He also announced that he would donate the $1 million he earned during his time with Sheeran. Travel around To organizations that “directly support the Palestinian people.”
“I invite Robert Craft to donate as well. Whatever our differences, perhaps we can all agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting,” he wrote on Instagram. “Palestinian life is not worth more than any other life on earth. This is what it has always been about. Not me. Not travel. Not headlines or controversy. This is about Palestinians’ right to freedom, dignity and security in their homeland.”
Kraft responded Wednesday by saying he has “dedicated much of his life to building bridges between all people.”
“Earlier today, before Macklemore asked me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid the region in its response to this humanitarian crisis,” he said.
Since Macklemore was removed from the league Travel aroundall of Sheeran’s other acts of support, including Finneasalso supported quitting the show.