Macklemore Donates Earnings From Sheeran Tour to Gaza

Macklemore is turning his exit from Ed Sheeran's tour into a seven-figure statement on Gaza, NBC News reports. The rapper said Wednesday he's giving $1 million—his full net earnings from the tour—to six groups supporting Palestinians, writing on Instagram that "Palestinian lives are worth protection" and urging New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to match the sum.

Kraft, who barred Macklemore from performing at Gillette Stadium and allegedly pushed other venues to do the same, said Sheeran had already asked him for a $2 million contribution for aid in the region—which he will give, per Page Six—and that they plan to "build bridges" along with other venue owners. Kraft, a longtime funder of efforts opposing antisemitism, said his issue is with Macklemore's "broader history of rhetoric and imagery," which he called harmful to Jews, not with advocacy for Palestinians. Meanwhile, among those criticizing Macklemore, per Fox News: Bill Maher and Michael Rapaport.