Dave Portnoy Backs Robert Kraft's Macklemore Ban 1000% After $1 Million Gaza Pledge
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 17
Dave Portnoy Backs Robert Kraft's Macklemore Ban 1000% After $1 Million Gaza Pledge
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 17
Summary
Portnoy said he supports Kraft “1000%” for barring Macklemore from Gillette Stadium, arguing a venue owner can refuse an act he sees as promoting hatred or turning a concert into a political rally.
Kraft’s move followed Macklemore’s anti-Israel chants, Gaza war imagery and performance of “Hind’s Hall” at Ed Sheeran’s Sept. 4-5 MetLife shows, along with scrutiny of a 2014 performance criticized for antisemitic caricatures.
Several venues reportedly warned they would not host the tour if Macklemore stayed on the bill, and promoters then removed him from Sheeran’s remaining U.S. dates after Kraft refused to host him in Foxborough.
Macklemore accused Kraft of organizing a stadium boycott, pledged $1 million in tour earnings to Palestinian aid and challenged him to match it; Kraft said Sheeran had already asked him to support a separate $2 million humanitarian donation.
The dispute widened after Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga quit the remaining tour dates in protest, with Portnoy calling the walkouts hypocritical and unfair to Sheeran’s fans.