Zach Bryan delivered a pointed message when he walked onto the stage at Gillette Stadium on Friday wearing a shirt emblazoned with the words “Free Palestine.”
The 30-year-old country star performed at the Foxborough, Massachusetts, venue owned by Robert Kraft just weeks after the businessman barred Macklemore from appearing there following the rapper’s pro-Palestine remarks during Ed Sheeran’s tour.
Bryan is set to return to Gillette Stadium on Saturday for the second of two consecutive concerts.
Macklemore previously discussed the controversy after speaking from the stage at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium last month. In an Instagram post, he said Sheeran had informed him that Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium, had imposed conditions on the tour.
“Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium,” Macklemore wrote. “Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.”
Friday’s concert marked the opening night of Bryan’s With Heaven On Tour. Gregory Alan Isakov and Gabriella Rose joined him as special guests.
Zach Bryan made a pointed statement at Gillette Stadium on Friday night by wearing a “Free Palestine” shirt; pictured in 2024
The 30-year-old country singer performed at Robert Kraft’s Foxborough, Massachusetts, stadium weeks after the 85-year-old businessman reportedly prevented Macklemore from appearing there over comments supporting Palestine made during Ed Sheeran’s tour; pictured in 2023
TMZ reported that several members of Bryan’s band also took the stage in “Free Palestine” shirts.
Macklemore’s removal from the remaining dates of Sheeran’s Loop tour prompted a statement from the British singer. Sheeran said the decision had been made by the promoter, not by him.
“I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living,” Sheeran wrote on Instagram.
Sheeran added that he holds personal opinions about the “devastating” Israel-Palestine conflict but had chosen “not to speak publicly” about them.
His position drew criticism from fellow musicians, including Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, who condemned Sheeran on social media for not publicly opposing the decision.
Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother, also withdrew from planned appearances on the tour. He said artists should not be silenced when speaking out on behalf of oppressed people.
The tour’s other opening acts, Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham, as well as Sheeran’s longtime backing group Beoga, subsequently followed Finneas’ lead. Sheeran was left to continue the shows without them.
When Sheeran returned to the stage after the controversy, he addressed the growing backlash surrounding the tour.
After Macklemore spoke onstage at MetLife Stadium last month, he said Ed Sheeran had told him Robert Kraft did not want him performing at Gillette Stadium; pictured in 2014
TMZ reported that members of Zach Bryan’s band also wore “Free Palestine” shirts during the Gillette Stadium performance
During a Philadelphia concert on September 19, Sheeran told the audience he had just endured “one of the worst weeks of my life.”
“I really didn’t know whether this tour would be carrying on,” he said. “I really didn’t know whether I’d even be getting on stage again, whether I even wanted to be an artist at all. In these situations, you really find out who your friends are, and it’s been a weird week.”
In his statement to fans, he stated: ‘I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so, so sorry.’
He said elsewhere in the speech ‘I don’t want to disappoint fans and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician. But this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech in the most complex political issue on the planet.’
The pop star continued: ‘Our concerts have always been a safe space for everyone, and that matters hugely to me. Honoring my commitment to my fans is also completely central to who I am and that is why I’m here tonight, on my own, and continuing my own tour.’
He went on to say: ‘I am deeply worried about the idea that venues pre-approved content performance. This happens in so many places that I’ve gone around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.’
Meanwhile, Macklemore has since announced a Macklemore & Friends Free Palestine tour, which sold out immediately; pictured with Sheeran in 2013
‘All three shows sold out immediately,’ Grammy-winning Macklemore revealed on Instagram this week
Meanwhile, Macklemore has since announced a Macklemore & Friends Free Palestine tour, which sold out immediately.
‘All three shows sold out immediately,’ the Grammy winner revealed on Instagram this week.
‘I’m honestly blown away. We put these shows together fast and in community, believing that musicians can stand in solidarity with Palestine, use the stage to raise funds and show what collective action can look like.’
He had previously shared that he would be embarking on the three-date tour with artists who have ‘used their stages to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, regardless of the consequences.’
The tour will stop in Dublin on October 26, Paris on October 29, and London on October 30.
