Kraft says Sheeran asked him to match $2m aid donation after Macklemore challenge

Robert Kraft says Ed Sheeran asked him to commit $2 million to match Sheeran's own donation for humanitarian aid in the region. The statement on Wednesday, Sept. 16, was Kraft's answer to a public challenge from Macklemore to match a $1 million gift Billboard.

Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots, said he has dedicated much of his life to building bridges between all people and believes all lives are worth protecting. He said Sheeran called him earlier that day, before Macklemore's challenge, to ask for the $2 million commitment.

Sheeran now plans to contact other venue owners, according to the statement. Kraft said their goal is to continue to work together to build bridges.

The statement did not say if or when Kraft would commit the money. It also did not name which organisations would receive it. A representative for Kraft's company, The Kraft Group, did not immediately return a request for clarification on whether and where Kraft would commit funds.

Macklemore had said he would donate $1 million, which he described as his net earnings from Sheeran's tour, to six aid groups. He named the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, UNRWA USA National Committee and Anera.

He then challenged Kraft to match the $1 million for organisations supporting Palestinian people.

The dispute follows Macklemore's removal as an opener on Sheeran's U.S. Loop Tour. He had made statements in support of Palestinians during Sheeran's tour stops at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 4 and 5. On Monday, Sept. 14, Messina Touring Group, the U.S. promoter handling the tour's American dates, said Macklemore will not perform on the remaining support dates.

Macklemore alleged that Kraft threatened to cancel Sheeran's upcoming shows at Gillette Stadium unless Macklemore was dropped from the bill. He also claimed Kraft rallied owners of other stadiums on the tour and that Sheeran had been given an ultimatum about playing venues.

Macklemore has said he empathised with the difficult position Sheeran was in BBC. In an Instagram post, he wrote that Sheeran told him Kraft said Macklemore would not be allowed to perform in Kraft's stadium NME.

Kraft has defended the decision to keep Macklemore off the Gillette Stadium show. He said the venue does "not provide a platform for hate speech" CBC and described the decision as based on Macklemore's "recent actions" onstage NBC News. He also said a Macklemore performance would cross the line and that he would welcome a sit-down with Macklemore to discuss the facts.