Macklemore says he is removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour after Patriots owner Robert Kraft allegedly pressured the tour and stadium operators to block his performance at Gillette Stadium. In his account, Kraft told Sheeran that Macklemore would not be allowed to perform, and Macklemore says Kraft then “rallied” other stadium owners as part of the effort.

Across the outlets, the core allegation is that Kraft’s intervention plays a decisive role in the booking outcome. The reporting frames Macklemore’s stance as related to Palestine, and multiple sources cite that he connects his removal to his public comments and activism. The Hollywood Reporter adds that Macklemore characterizes the situation as a departure from Sheeran’s usual approach, saying Sheeran’s “typical apolitical stance” is being challenged in a new way. None of the articles provided a published response from Kraft or from Ed Sheeran’s tour in the excerpts.