Kaepernick Accuses NFL Owners of Colluding to Oust Macklemore From $1 Million Tour
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 18
Kaepernick Accuses NFL Owners of Colluding to Oust Macklemore From $1 Million Tour
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 18
Summary
Colin Kaepernick said Robert Kraft and other NFL owners "openly colluded" to push Macklemore off Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour after the rapper voiced pro-Palestinian views and performed “Hind’s Hall” at MetLife Stadium.
Gillette Stadium owner Kraft confirmed Macklemore would not perform there, but rejected claims he was suppressing Palestinian advocacy, saying the issue was what he called Macklemore’s anti-Semitic rhetoric and imagery.
Messina Touring Group then removed Macklemore from the remaining dates, saying multiple venues would not host the shows with him on the bill; Sheeran said the promoter made the call after he tried to broker a conversation.
Macklemore said he would donate the $1 million he expected to earn from the tour to six Palestinian-supporting groups and challenged Kraft to match it, while Kraft said Sheeran had already asked him privately for a $2 million relief contribution.
Kaepernick cast the episode as a replay of his own NFL collusion claim after his 2016 anthem protests; that grievance ended in a confidential 2019 settlement without a ruling on the merits.