Zach Bryan's 'Free Palestine' shirt at Gillette Stadium stirs Ed Sheeran drama - USA Today
Country singer Zach Bryan’s latest political fashion statement might add more fuel to the ongoing Ed Sheeran-Macklemore tour drama.
The “Something in the Orange” musician wore a black “Free Palestine” T-shirt at his Friday, Oct. 2, concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, weeks after Macklemore's pro-Palestinian sentiments led to his ban from the same venue.
The wardrobe choice wasn’t a solo act, either: Some band members also wore matching shirts, seemingly in solidarity, according to video footage TMZ published.
The gig marked the first of two planned performances at Gillette. Bryan is still scheduled to continue his With Heaven On Tour show at the venue Saturday, Oct. 3.
As yet, Bryan has not said why he wore the attire or where he stands on the sensitive conflict.
USA TODAY has reached out to Bryan’s representatives for comment.
The "I Remember Everything" star's shirt brought renewed attention to a recent dispute involving Gillette Stadium and another artist’s pro-Palestinian message.
After Macklemore called for a “free Palestine” while opening for Sheeran at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Sept. 4 and 5, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft – whose Kraft Group owns Gillette – objected to the rapper’s planned performances there and characterized his statements as antisemitic.
The “Thrift Shop” rapper was later removed from his remaining scheduled dates on the U.S. leg of Sheeran’s tour, with Kraft penning a statement announcing the decision.
“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,” Kraft’s statement on X read.
The ensuing fallout beyond Macklemore's removal prompted Finneas O'Connell, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and even Sheeran's guest band, Beoga, to withdraw from their upcoming Loop Tour performances, citing support for Macklemore and opposing restrictions on pro-Palestinian speech.
Sheeran has said the promoter – not he – made the decision to remove Macklemore. The "Thinking Out Loud" singer used his Sept. 19 Philadelphia show to apologize for mistakes he said he had made, calling the devastation in Gaza "catastrophic and unjustifiable," and voiced concern about venues seeking to preapprove performers' content.
Kraft and Macklemore, meanwhile, have pledged $2 million and $1 million, respectively, toward Palestine, with the billionaire's donation going directly to the Middle East region.
The rapper said his donation will come from his Loop Tour earnings and go to organizations supporting Palestinians. He also announced a Free Palestine Tour for late October, with all proceeds from those shows benefiting organizations providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
