Dave Portnoy has launched an attack on Macklemore while backing New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft after the rapper was removed from the remainder of Ed Sheeran’s world tour following a “Free Palestine” speech.
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, was dropped after making a political statement in support of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank during performances at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on September 4 and 5.
Following the decision, the “Thrift Shop” artist broke his silence on Instagram. He alleged that Kraft, an observant Orthodox Jew, had issued an ultimatum to other stadium owners over his continued involvement in the tour.
Portnoy, the Jewish founder of Barstool Sports and a Patriots supporter, responded in a lengthy social media video. He rejected claims that removing Macklemore from the tour amounted to censorship or a violation of the rapper’s freedom of speech.
In an angry response, Portnoy said Kraft likely researched Macklemore’s background after seeing the speech and argued that the rapper had a “shady past.”
Portnoy pointed to a previous concert incident in which he claimed Macklemore wore clothing and made a gesture that were widely condemned as anti-Semitic. He also noted that Macklemore had apologized, but argued that the incident raised questions about whether his support for Palestine reflected deeper hostility toward Israel and Jewish people.
Dave Portnoy has criticized Macklemore while backing Patriots owner Robert Kraft
Macklemore has been removed from the rest of Ed Sheeran’s LOOP Tour after backlash over his “Free Palestine” speech earlier this month
Portnoy also accused Macklemore of being a 9/11 truther and criticized his association with Hasan Piker. He said the rapper had appeared to suggest that George Bush was responsible for the destruction of the Twin Towers.
He further condemned Macklemore for describing the situation in Gaza as a genocide 12 days after Hamas attacked Israel. Portnoy argued that the rapper had failed to acknowledge the 2,000 innocent Jews he said were killed, raped and slaughtered during the invasion.
Portnoy highlighted Kraft’s long-running campaign against anti-Semitism and hate, saying the Patriots owner had spent the past decade confronting those issues. He said Gillette Stadium has an anti-Semitism “war room” that monitors hate across the country and claimed Kraft had spent millions on the fight.
Portnoy argued that Macklemore, whom he described as anti-Semitic and a 9/11 truther, was turning the concert into a political rally by making the speech at a Kraft-owned venue. “That’s not censorship,” he said.
Addressing claims that Kraft had forced Macklemore off the tour, Portnoy said the decision could not be considered censorship because Kraft owns the stadium. He compared the situation to refusing to host someone who intended to use a private event to spread views the owner considered hateful.
Portnoy also said fans had bought tickets to see Ed Sheeran and should not have to listen to a political speech from the opening act. He added that Jewish concertgoers who wanted to enjoy Sheeran’s performance might not want to hear Macklemore’s views on Palestine.
He said he believed Macklemore did not think Israel had the right to exist, although that was Portnoy’s characterization of the rapper’s position. “I didn’t pay to hear Macklemore give me a political speech,” Portnoy said. “I paid to hear Ed Sheeran sing.”
Portnoy said Macklemore would be free to make political statements at a concert where he was the headliner and audiences knew what to expect. But he argued that this was different because the event was an Ed Sheeran show at a venue owned by Kraft, whom he said would never have agreed to host Macklemore in those circumstances.
Macklemore alleged that Kraft pressured other stadium owners, saying: “If Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.”
The dispute began when Macklemore used his opening set to lead the audience in chanting “Free Palestine” and delivered a politically charged speech.
Macklemore said every person deserved the same freedom and told the crowd that people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank had not been forgotten. His comments were later criticized by singer Pink.
He followed the speech by performing “Hind’s Hall,” his protest song, as images showing the devastation in Gaza appeared on the giant screens at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
On Thursday, Macklemore sparked fresh fury after photos of him wearing an ‘anti-Semitic Jewish costume’ resurfaced online.
The images show Macklemore wearing an oversized prosthetic nose, a black beard and a shaggy black wig during a 2014 performance in Seattle.
The costume was criticized for resembling an anti-Semitic caricature of a Jewish man. Macklemore apologized at the time, saying he had no malicious intention and was unaware that the costume resembled a Jewish stereotype.
People online have accused Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian activism of being part of something more sinister, pointing to his controversial costume and a circulating image that appears to show him making a Nazi salute while dressed in it.
Shortly after Macklemore’s statement, Kraft issued his own response. In a statement received by The Daily Mail, the Patriots owner said: ‘Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech.
Macklemore also faced a boycott petition calling for his removal from Sheeran’s tour for the blunt and direct language he used onstage. Above, Sheeran and Macklemore in 2013 at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City
‘Based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line.
‘This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. Their pain and loss are real.
‘But that advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas, a United States and globally (including Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, and Japan) designated terrorist organization whose horrific actions have caused immeasurable suffering for Palestinians and Israelis alike.
‘I agree with Macklemore. Too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate.
‘Over many decades, I have directed resources to Palestine and created athletic and entrepreneurial opportunities for Palestinians who I admire and respect. Standing with the Palestinian people and standing against Hamas, antisemitism and hate should not be mutually exclusive.
‘Much of my time and attention for the last decade has been focused on the fight against antisemitism and hate of all kinds, and I feel a responsibility to stand up when I believe that line has been crossed. I have tremendous respect for Ed and his music, particularly his unique ability to bring people together and spread joy, and I have always been proud to welcome him and his fans to Gillette Stadium.
‘I 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 hate.’
