On the opening night of his two-show engagement at Gillette Stadium, Zach Bryan took the stage wearing a shirt emblazoned with ‘Free Palestine,’ appearing to direct a message to Robert Kraft, the stadium and New England Patriots owner who previously banned Macklemore from the venue following the Seattle rapper’s remarks during Ed Sheeran’s tour.
Representatives for Bryan and Gillette Stadium declined to immediately comment on the gesture.
Earlier in September, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Macklemore delivered a pro-Palestine message during an Ed Sheeran concert, chanting ‘Free Palestine,’ expressing solidarity with those in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, displaying images from the conflict, and performing his protest track ‘Hind’s Hall,’ which addresses pro-Palestine demonstrators at Columbia University. The response was swift, with pro-Israel groups condemning the action, leading to Macklemore’s removal from the remainder of Sheeran’s stadium tour.
Macklemore later stated he was removed from the tour after Kraft exerted pressure on Ed Sheeran to nix the rapper. In a public statement, Kraft confirmed the decision to bar Macklemore from Gillette, citing ‘recent actions and material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey.’ Kraft did not address allegations he also rallied other stadium owners to apply similar pressure.
Following Macklemore’s exit, every artist scheduled to support Sheeran on his Loop Tour withdrew from the remaining stadium dates. Finneas took to social media, writing, ‘Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.’
Macklemore subsequently announced his own headlining Free Palestine Tour, declaring the shows sold out almost immediately. In a statement, he said, ‘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.’ He added, ‘When those in power try to silence our calls for liberation, art will always be a form of resistance.’
As of now, Zach Bryan remains scheduled to perform at Gillette Stadium on Saturday evening as part of his sold-out With Heaven On Tour.
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