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Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, has pledged $2 million to support humanitarian aid for Palestinians. The announcement follows a public controversy involving rapper Macklemore, who was removed from the lineup of an upcoming concert at Gillette Stadium.
The conflict began when Kraft, a prominent pro-Israel philanthropist, pressured singer Ed Sheeran to remove Macklemore from his tour. Kraft cited Macklemore’s recent public comments regarding Israel, including accusations of genocide and the broadcasting of footage from campus protests, as crossing the line into hate speech. According to The Wall Street Journal, other NFL stadium owners also expressed objections to hosting the rapper.
Following his removal from the tour, Macklemore challenged Kraft to match his own $1 million donation to six pro-Palestinian organizations. Kraft subsequently announced his $2 million pledge, stating he intended to match a commitment he said was discussed privately with Sheeran. In a statement released by Gillette Stadium, Kraft said he has dedicated his life to building bridges and believes all lives are worth protecting. He emphasized that he does not object to pro-Palestinian advocacy, provided it does not involve supporting Hamas.
Kraft has not yet specified which organizations will receive the funds. Macklemore’s own donations were directed to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, HEAL Palestine, Medical Aid for Palestinians, American Near East Refugee Aid, the Gaza Soup Kitchen, and UNRWA USA. The latter organization, which supports the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, has faced significant scrutiny and funding cuts following allegations that some of its staff participated in the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.
Historically, Kraft’s philanthropy has focused on fighting antisemitism and supporting Jewish organizations, such as a recent $10 million gift to Brandeis University. Regarding his past support for Palestinian initiatives, Kraft noted his involvement with programs that foster business and athletic opportunities, including the peacebuilding group Seeds of Peace and the Kraft Family Israel Football League.
The decision to remove Macklemore from the tour has drawn criticism from various figures, including U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who accused stadium owners of censoring speech. Conversely, others, including Dave Portnoy and singer Pink, have defended Kraft’s actions.
Representatives for Kraft did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the specific beneficiaries of the new $2 million pledge.
Article source: www.jta.org | Image credit: www.jta.org
