Zach Bryan wore a “Free Palestine” shirt during a Friday night performance at Gillette Stadium for his With Heaven On Tour, after owner Robert Kraft defended his move to urge Ed Sheeran to remove Macklemore from the tour after he made pro-Palestine comments at an earlier show.
In photos and videos captured by fans and shared on social mediaBrian can be seen wearing a black shirt with the words “Free Palestine” while several members of his band also wore Palestine-branded clothing.
Bryan reportedly did not address the shirt or make any comments on stage about Palestine.
The country singer is playing a two-night run at Kraft Stadium, set to wrap up his tour on Saturday night.
Bryan’s “Free Palestine” shirt comes amid a dispute between the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium owner Kraft. Rapper Macklemore previously alleged that he was removed from being the opener on Sheeran’s tour after Kraft “united some other stadium owners and collectively gave them an ultimatum: If Macklemore stays on tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.” During his opening set at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore publicly shouted “Free Palestine” and showed footage from Gaza on a screen behind him.
Macklemore also said in a statement, “What happened to me is bigger than an artist or a platform.” “When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on the stage and which are too dangerous to listen to, everyone should pay attention.”
On his Instagram Stories, Macklemore shared a photo of Brian wearing a shirt that read, “Robert Craft” with a side eye emoji and a Palestine flag.
In response Kraft said in a statement, “Gillette Stadium has a long-term commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venues do not provide a platform for hate speech. Based on Macklemore’s recent actions, the content shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s show in New Jersey, and an extensive history of anti-Semitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe is deeply offensive and harmful to the Jewish community, we determined that Their participation was on September 25 and 26. The concerts at Gillette Stadium will exceed that limit.”
He also said he would welcome the opportunity to “sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same – peace for all people, an end to suffering and an end to all hatred.”
Regarding the decision, Sheeran shared in his statement, “Macklemore’s decision to leave the tour was the promoter’s decision, not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me.”
Amid the fallout, other acts opening for Sheeran’s tour – Finneas, Danish pop band Lucas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe – pulled out in solidarity with Macklemore.
Macklemore later revealed that he was donating $1 million to support the Palestinian people and invited Kraft to match his donation. The owner of Gillette Stadium agreed and announced that he planned to “match his donation of $2 million to help the region fight this humanitarian crisis.”
Macklemore has since announced a “Free Palestine” tour, pledging to donate all proceeds to pro-Palestinian organizations. He will perform in Dublin, Paris and London on 26, 29 and 30 October. Additional performing artists are to be announced.
Last week, Macklemore shared that all three dates were sold out following his announcement. “Honestly, I’m shocked,” Macklemore wrote. “We put together these shows quickly and in community, believing that musicians can stand in solidarity with Palestine, use the platform to raise funds and show what collective action can look like. When those in power try to silence our calls for liberation, art will always be a form of resistance.”
hollywood reporter Craft has been requested to comment.
An X account was misidentified as Zach Bryan in a previous version of this story. His account has reportedly been deactivated.