Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, confirmed that rapper Macklemore will no longer perform as an opening act for Ed Sheeran at Gillette Stadium. The decision follows internal discussions regarding the artist's public history. Kraft stated that the move was necessary because the organization would not provide a platform for what he characterized as "hate speech."

According to Kraft, the primary motivation for the cancellation was a pattern of behavior from the artist that the organization deemed "deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community." This includes past instances of rhetoric and imagery that have drawn criticism for being antisemitic. The Gillette Stadium management team concluded that hosting the artist would be inconsistent with their values and their relationship with the community.

While the decision to remove the artist has been finalized, there has been no public response from Macklemore’s representatives regarding the specific allegations or the cancellation of the performance. The event, which features Ed Sheeran as the headliner, is expected to proceed as scheduled without the planned opening act. The incident highlights the ongoing tension between venue owners and performers regarding the vetting of artists based on their past public statements and perceived social impact.