Macklemore donates $1M to Palestinian relief as Ed Sheeran and Robert Kraft pledge $2M each without naming recipients

Macklemore is donating the entire $1 million in net earnings he received from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organisations supporting Palestinians, days after he was removed from the tour following his pro-Palestinian remarks. He also challenged New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to match the donation. Kraft subsequently revealed that he and Sheeran had already committed $2 million each, bringing their combined pledge to $4 million.

Macklemore has identified the six organisations that will receive his donation as the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, UNRWA USA National Committee and American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera). He said the money would help redirect attention towards Palestinians and organisations providing aid on the ground.

Kraft’s response came through a statement posted by the Gillette Stadium account. He said Sheeran had contacted him earlier in the day and asked him to commit $2 million towards efforts in the region to address the humanitarian crisis. Kraft said he would contribute the money and that Sheeran planned to contact other venue owners about continuing similar efforts.

Neither Sheeran nor Kraft has publicly identified the organisations that will receive their respective $2 million donations. Variety reported that representatives for both men did not immediately provide further details when contacted. Their statements describe the money as humanitarian aid for the region, leaving the eventual recipients unspecified.

The development follows Macklemore’s removal from Sheeran’s Loop Tour after his September 5 performance at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, where he voiced support for Palestine. The decision triggered a wider dispute around political expression at the tour’s venues. Sheeran subsequently said the decision was made by promoters after venue owners indicated they would withdraw their shows if Macklemore remained on the bill.

All of the remaining support acts subsequently withdrew from the tour, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Sheeran’s touring band Beoga, citing solidarity with Macklemore and opposition to silencing artists who speak about Palestine.

Macklemore said donating his earnings was one form of solidarity available to him, while also arguing that humanitarian aid alone cannot address the political conditions behind the crisis.

Support for Macklemore has also come from a wide range of artists and public figures, including Kehlani, Lewis Hamilton, Roger Waters, Kneecap, CMAT, Zara Larsson, Paloma Faith, Garbage, Greta Thunberg, Hannah Einbinder, Colin Kaepernick, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Marissa Bode, Alana Hadid, MUNA, bbno$, Adam Bakri and Tyler Oakley, among others. Their responses have ranged from messages of solidarity with Macklemore and Palestine to criticism of his removal from Sheeran’s tour.