Add The New York Post on Google Robert Kraft extended an unexpected olive branch to Macklemore after the rapper claimed the Jewish businessman was the reason he was booted from Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour.
The New England Patriots owner, 85, said he would “welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore” after several venues — including Gillette Stadium, which is owned by Kraft — said they would refuse to let the “Thrift Shop” artist perform.
A keffiyeh-clad Macklemore had sparked outrage after going on an anti-Israel rant while opening for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium last week, calling for a “free Palestine” and accusing Israel of committing a genocide in Gaza.
“I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts.” Kraft said in a statement Monday. “Ultimately our goal is the same – peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate.”
The surprise offering came just hours after the lefty rapper hit out at Kraft on social media, claiming he’d personally called up Sheeran and given an ultimatum to pick playing shows at Gillette and other stadiums or keeping Macklemore as his tour opener.
Kraft acknowledged that the claims were true in his statement but said he was only doing so because many of the pro-Palestinian claims and images shared during Macklemore’s performances were “deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.”
“This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. Their pain and loss are real,” Kraft said.
“But that advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas, a United States and globally … designated terrorist organization whose horrific actions have caused immeasurable suffering for Palestinians and Israelis alike.”
Kraft said he didn’t have a problem with Macklemore’s stance about ending violence between Israel and Palestinians — but that the way he framed it onstage didn’t tell the full story of the conflict.
“I agree with Macklemore. Too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate,” he added.
