Zach Bryan Displays ‘Free Palestine’ Support During Gillette Stadium Performance Amid Kraft Controversy

During his “With Heaven On Tour” performance at Gillette Stadium on Friday night, country singer Zach Bryan made a political statement by wearing a “Free Palestine” shirt. The move follows recent friction involving stadium owner Robert Kraft, who defended the decision to remove Macklemore from Ed Sheeran’s tour following the rapper’s pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Fan-captured photos and videos circulating on social media show Bryan in a black shirt emblazoned with “Free Palestine” text, while several members of his band were also seen wearing apparel supporting Palestine.

Bryan did not make a formal stage announcement regarding the shirt or discuss the geopolitical situation during his set.

The singer is currently completing a two-night engagement at the Kraft-owned venue, with the final show scheduled for Saturday night.

The display comes amid significant tension involving Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium. The controversy stems from allegations by rapper Macklemore, who claimed he was removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour lineup after Kraft pressured stadium owners to issue an ultimatum regarding his continued participation. Macklemore had previously used his platform at MetLife Stadium to call for a “Free Palestine” and display footage from Gaza.

“What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage,“ Macklemore stated. “When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention.“

Macklemore also highlighted Bryan’s support by sharing a photo of the singer on his Instagram Stories, captioning it with “Robert Kraft” alongside a side-eye emoji and the Palestinian flag.

In a formal response, Kraft stated: “Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech. 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.”

Kraft added that he would be open to discussing the matter with Macklemore, noting that their ultimate shared goal is “peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate.”

Ed Sheeran addressed the situation in a separate statement, clarifying that the removal of Macklemore was a decision made by the promoter rather than himself, noting that Macklemore’s contract was held by the promoter.

Following the announcement, several other artists scheduled to open for Sheeran—including Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe—withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.

Macklemore has since pledged to donate $1 million to support Palestinians and invited Kraft to match the contribution. Kraft accepted the challenge, announcing a commitment of $2 million to aid in the regional humanitarian crisis.

Macklemore is now launching a “Free Palestine” Tour, with all proceeds dedicated to pro-Palestinian organizations. Scheduled performances include dates in Dublin, Paris, and London on October 26, 29, and 30, with additional artists yet to be announced.

The artist noted that all three tour dates have already sold out. “I’m honestly blown away,” Macklemore wrote. “We put these shows together fast and in community, believing that musicians can stand in solidarity with Palestine, use the stage to raise funds and show what collective action can look like. When those in power try to silence our calls for liberation, art will always be a form of resistance.“

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