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Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy firmly backed Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s decision to ban Macklemore from Gillette Stadium, telling the rapper to take his political activism somewhere else.
Kraft’s decision helped get Macklemore kicked off Ed Sheeran’s U.S. "Loop Tour" after the Patriots owner cited the rapper’s history of antisemitic controversies.
"I back Robert Kraft banning Macklemore from performing at Gillette 1000% and thank him for having a spine when many others in his shoes don't," Portnoy said in a video posted to X.
MACKLEMORE DOUBLES DOWN AFTER GETTING KICKED OFF ED SHEERAN TOUR AFTER PRO-PALESTINE STANCE
Dave Portnoy speaks at "Dave Portnoy In Conversation With Erika Ayers Badan: Cancel Me If You Can" at 92NY on June 29, 2026 in New York City. (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
Ed Sheeran and Macklemore attend the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, on Aug. 25, 2013. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
"Macklemore, who is turning this into a political rally, you're going to come into Bob Kraft's house and spit in his face? No f------ way!" Portnoy said. "That's not censorship. This ain't freedom of speech, homie. He owns the stadium! It's his house."
He added: "Would you have a party and invite someone over who is going to spew what you consider hatred? If I go to the Ed Sheeran concert, I don't want to hear a ‘Free Palestine’ rant from a guy who isn't being genuine about it all. I didn't pay to hear Macklemore give me a political speech, I paid to hear Ed Sheeran sing."
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Portnoy spotlighted Macklemore’s antisemitic past.
"Bob Kraft, I am sure, did what I did when I saw this, he researched Macklemore," Portnoy said. "It didn't take long to learn that Macklemore has a pretty shady past. He already, at a prior concert, dressed in wildly antisemitic tropes."
Portnoy was referring to a 2014 Seattle performance in which Macklemore wore a dark suit, fake beard and prosthetic nose, drawing criticism for invoking antisemitic Jewish caricatures. Macklemore later apologized.
During Sheeran’s Sept. 4 and Sept. 5 shows at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, Macklemore led anti-Israel chants, projected Gaza war imagery and performed "Hind’s Hall."
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft speaks to the crowd, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, during a Patriots NFL football Send Off rally in Foxborough, Massachusetts, for Super Bowl LX. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
US rapper, singer, dancer and DJ, Benjamin Haggerty, known as Macklemore, performs at the Goldencoast Rap Festival in Corcelles-les-Monts, near Dijon, central-eastern France, on August 30, 2026. (Photo by ARNAUD FINISTRE / AFP via Getty Images) (ARNAUD FINISTRE / AFP via Getty Images)
Several venues reportedly told the tour promoter they would not host shows if Macklemore remained on the lineup. Kraft refused to host him at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and the promoter ultimately removed him from the remaining dates.
Macklemore later accused Kraft of coordinating a stadium boycott against him. He pledged his $1 million in tour earnings to Palestinian aid and challenged Kraft to match the donation.
In a statement released through Gillette Stadium, Kraft said Sheeran had contacted him privately before Macklemore’s public challenge. Sheeran asked Kraft to support a $2 million humanitarian donation, and Kraft said he agreed to support relief efforts in the region.
Kraft also cited Macklemore’s history of antisemitic tropes and his failure to acknowledge the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people.
PINK HITS BACK AMID BACKLASH FOR CRITICIZING MACKLEMORE'S PRO-PALESTINIAN CONCERT REMARKS
Owner Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots looks on prior to the NFL game between the Patriots and the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Oct. 5. (Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
After Macklemore was dropped, opening acts including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga pulled out of the remaining tour dates in protest.
Portnoy slammed the musicians who abandoned Sheeran’s tour, accusing them of hypocrisy and putting political posturing ahead of their commitment to fans.
"I feel bad for Ed Sheeran; his band quit, saying, ‘This is censorship, Free Palestine!’ That guy, Finneas, the brother of Billie Eilish, f------ hypocrites; they backed out," Portnoy said.
Portnoy closed by insisting that defending Kraft required more than a token show of support.
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"I don't stand with Bob Kraft 5 percent, 10 percent," Portnoy said. "I stand with Bob Kraft 110 percent. More Jews have to speak out. That's why I am making this video, because it's really easy for everyone just to pile on right now, but I have his back a hundred million percent."
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
Alejandro Avila is a longtime writer at OutKick, living in Southern California.
