Zach Bryan Wears ‘Free Palestine’ at Kraft’s Stadium After Macklemore Ban

Zach Bryan wore a “Free Palestine” shirt at Gillette Stadium after owner Robert Kraft barred Macklemore over his pro-Palestinian performances.

Key Takeaways

• Zach Bryan and members of his band wore clothing supporting Palestine during Friday’s performance at Gillette Stadium.
• Stadium owner Robert Kraft previously barred Macklemore from performing, while the rapper alleged a broader pressure campaign led to his removal from Ed Sheeran’s tour.
• Other opening acts withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore, whose subsequent Free Palestine tour sold out its three announced dates.

Bryan and Band Wear Palestine Clothing at Gillette

Zach Bryan wore a “Free Palestine” shirt during his Friday performance at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, weeks after stadium owner Robert Kraft barred Macklemore from appearing at the venue. The concert was the first of two headlining performances scheduled to conclude Bryan’s With Heaven On Tour. Photographs and videos recorded by fans showed the singer wearing a black shirt bearing the message, The Hollywood Reporter reported. Bryan did not address the shirt or make further comments about Palestine during the performance, according to the publication. According to the report, members of his band also wore clothing supporting Palestinians. Variety reported that drummer Nate Head wore a Palestine jersey bearing the name “Hind Rajab” and the numeral 5 on its back. Guitarist Noah Le Gros wore a green Palestine soccer jersey. https://x.com/yashar/status/2106278366223683782?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2106278366223683782%7Ctwgr%5E12d15077ec73b5d67ff36f36d68ff19dd7e3ff24%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.palestinechronicle.com%2Fzach-bryan-wears-free-palestine-at-krafts-stadium-after-macklemore-ban%2F   Head subsequently reposted footage of himself performing in the jersey on his Instagram Stories. The original post included the hashtags “RIP Hind Rajab” and “Free Palestine,” Variety reported. Macklemore shared a photograph of Bryan wearing the shirt on his Instagram Stories, adding “Robert Kraft,” a side-eye emoji and a Palestinian flag, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

Kraft’s Ban and Macklemore’s Removal

The dispute began after Macklemore’s performances as an opening act on Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in early September. Rolling Stone reported that Macklemore shouted “Free Palestine,” expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, displayed images from Gaza and performed “Hind’s Hall,” his protest song supporting pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Columbia University. Pro-Israel groups criticized the performances, and Macklemore was subsequently removed from the remaining tour dates. Macklemore stated that Kraft organized pressure from multiple stadium owners to secure his removal. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the rapper said Kraft “rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.” Kraft confirmed that he had barred Macklemore from performing at Gillette Stadium. “Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech,” Kraft said. Macklemore replied by saying that the decision raised broader questions about control over public performances. “What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage,” he said in a statement quoted by The Hollywood Reporter. “When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention.” Sheeran attributed the removal to the tour promoter. “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me,” he said. https://x.com/ProudSocialist/status/2106223557969887441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2106223557969887441%7Ctwgr%5E12d15077ec73b5d67ff36f36d68ff19dd7e3ff24%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.palestinechronicle.com%2Fzach-bryan-wears-free-palestine-at-krafts-stadium-after-macklemore-ban%2F   Variety reported that Messina Touring Group said Kraft would not permit the tour to perform at his venues if Macklemore remained on the bill. Sheeran’s Gillette Stadium concerts were ultimately canceled because of severe weather.

Artists Withdraw as Free Palestine Tour Sells Out

Other artists scheduled to open for Sheeran withdrew following Macklemore’s removal. They included Finneas, Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe, The Hollywood Reporter reported. Finneas explicitly stated that his withdrawal was an act of solidarity with Palestinians and opposition to silencing artists. “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” he wrote in a social media statement reported by Rolling Stone. “I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.” Macklemore later announced a $1 million donation to support Palestinians and invited Kraft to match it. Kraft agreed and announced plans “to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. Macklemore also announced a separate Free Palestine tour, pledging all proceeds to organizations supporting Palestinians. The announced concerts are scheduled for Dublin on October 26, Paris on October 29 and London on October 30, with additional participating artists to be announced. All three dates sold out after tickets went on sale. “I’m honestly blown away,” Macklemore wrote in a statement reported by The Hollywood Reporter. “We put these shows together fast and in community, believing that musicians can stand in solidarity with Palestine, use the stage to raise funds and show what collective action can look like. When those in power try to silence our calls for liberation, art will always be a form of resistance.” (PC, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone)