Charisma Madarang
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Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Chris Graythen/Getty Images Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took aim at New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft after Macklemore was forced off Ed Sheeran’s tour following onstage comments the rapper made in support of Palestinians amid Israel’s war in Gaza.
“It’s not just what has happened with the act and not just in removing Macklemore from the lineup, but when you see what Robert Kraft did to line up all of the stadiums to censor speech in that one specific way, it’s become clear that this is not just about one music artist or two music artists, but this is about how just a handful of stadium owners and the elite can prevent an entire massive issue, in this case, the genocide in Gaza,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a clip shared by Fox News.
In another clip posted by TMZ, when asked if Sheeran held responsibility, the congresswoman said that while everyone plays a role, the focus should be on Kraft and “the actual people who are who are kind of twisting things here.” She added, “We need to be very clear about how dangerous a precedent this.”
AOC: When you see what Robert Kraft did to line up all the stadiums to censor speech in that one specific way, it's become clear it's not just about one music artist or two music artists, but this is about how just a handful of stadium owners and the elite can prevent an entire… pic.twitter.com/VZavVY2eLd
— Acyn (@Acyn) September 15, 2026
The controversy over Macklemore and his involvement as an opening act on Sheeran’s Loop Tour began after the Seattle artist joined the run in early September for two shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. At the first gig, Macklemore shouted “Free Palestine”; stood in solidarity with people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank; showed images on screens of the devastation caused by the war in Gaza; and performed his protest song, “Hind’s Hall,” about pro-Palestine demonstrators at Columbia University.
The backlash was swift. Pro-Israel groups denounced Macklemore, with the Israeli American Council launching a petition demanding Sheeran nix him from the rest of the tour.
