Macklemore is donating the total of his $1 million profits from his time on Ed Sheeran’s tour to organizations working to support Palestine, and Robert Kraft has responded after the rapper challenged him to do the same.
On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, Macklemore issued a statement on Instagram amid the ongoing discourse surrounding his departure from Sheeran’s tour. In his statement, the rapper revealed he would be donating his full tour profits to support Palestinian aid, emphasizing that supporting the country remains his primary objective.
“I will be donating the entire $1 million of my net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organizations working directly to support the Palestinian people,” he stated. After challenging Kraft to match his donation, Macklemore added, “Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree to this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting. A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on this earth.”
Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Kraft and other stadium owners pressured the tour’s promoter to drop the rapper for his vocal support of Palestine during his opening sets, a move that led to four other supporting acts leaving the tour in solidarity.
Responding shortly after the post, Kraft issued a statement through Gillette Stadium’s Instagram, clarifying that he had already been in conversation with Sheeran about matching the pop star’s own $2 million donation to humanitarian efforts in the region.
“I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting,” Kraft wrote. “Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis. Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges.”
Kraft further noted his history of supporting initiatives that create opportunities for Palestinians, including efforts to foster business and relationships between Palestinians and Israelis. However, he did not specify which organizations would receive the funds. Macklemore’s challenge and the subsequent response highlight the intensifying intersection of celebrity activism and high-profile philanthropy.