Colin Kaepernick says NFL team owners are “openly colluding” to prevent rapper Macklemore from performing, after Macklemore is removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour. Kaepernick links the decision to concerns about Macklemore’s onstage comments about Palestine.
Kaepernick, a former NFL quarterback whose playing career ended after his protests against police violence, draws parallels between himself and Macklemore. In interviews, he frames the tour ban as similar to his own experience of being shut out following his activism.
The outlets report the accusation and the surrounding events, including Kaepernick’s reference to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. The Guardian also notes that Kaepernick previously settled a collusion-related case in 2019, while the other report focuses primarily on his comments and the connection he makes between the two situations. None of the sources provide independent confirmation of collusion.
