Macklemore Pledges $1 Million in Tour Earnings to Palestinian Relief Groups

Following his removal from Ed Sheeran’s tour over pro-Palestinian remarks at MetLife Stadium, rapper Macklemore has pledged his $1 million net earnings to six relief organizations, sparking matched donations from Robert Kraft and Ed Sheeran while drawing renewed international attention to ongoing humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the West Bank.

Tour Ouster and the Million-Dollar Pledge for Gaza Relief

Benjamin Haggerty, performing as Macklemore, announced that he is donating his entire $1 million net earnings from his time on Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six humanitarian groups working directly with Palestinians. The decision follows a turbulent 48-hour period after the 43-year-old rapper was dropped from upcoming concerts at Gillette Stadium due to remarks made on stage in New Jersey.

Robert Kraft has responded to Macklemore’s pledge to donate $1 million from his Ed Sheeran tour earnings to Palestinian — Photo: thenightly.com.au

The funds are designated for six organizations: Anera, Gaza Soup Kitchen, HEAL Palestine, Medical Aid for Palestinians, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA USA).

“With everything that has happened over the last 48 hours, I want to bring the conversation back to where it belongs: to the Palestinian people who are still being killed, still living under military occupation, and still fighting for their freedom.”

Concert Controversy, Tour Fallout, and Venue Clash

The tour disruption escalated quickly after Macklemore delivered a free Palestine message during a September 5 performance at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. In a statement posted to social media, Ed Sheeran clarified that Macklemore’s removal from the lineup was ordered by the tour promoter and venue operators rather than by the British singer himself.

View this post on Instagram about macklemore pledges million tour, Macklemore Palestinian aid pledge

From Instagram — related to macklemore pledges million tour, Macklemore Palestinian aid pledge

The venue’s owners, however, defended the decision by pointing to political statements made on stage. Gillette Stadium and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft asserted that the rapper was dropped owing to his on-stage comments and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that venue leadership deemed offensive to the Jewish community.

The ouster triggered a cascade of withdrawals across the tour. Irish performers Aaron Rowe and Beoga, Danish group Lukas Graham, and US musician Finneas all announced they were pulling out of supporting slots in solidarity with Macklemore. Simultaneously, Sheeran experienced a sharp drop in social media followers as fans reacted to the lineup changes.

Matching Funds from Robert Kraft and Ed Sheeran

In his announcement, Macklemore directly challenged New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to match his $1 million contribution. The public challenge prompted a swift response from the billionaire stadium owner.

Macklemore Pledges $1 Million in Tour Earnings to Palestinian Relief Groups — Photo: Nbcnews

Kraft released a statement confirming that Ed Sheeran had contacted him directly to commit $2 million in matching humanitarian aid for the war-stricken region. Kraft announced that he would match that $2 million figure himself. Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis, Kraft said in a statement posted to the official Gillette Stadium X account.

While Kraft did not disclose specific recipient organizations for his matched funds, he emphasized a long-standing personal history of supporting economic opportunities and business ties between Palestinians and Israelis.

Relief Organizations Detail the On-the-Ground Reality

Leaders of the beneficiary nonprofits emphasized that the financial windfall brings much-needed visibility to ongoing suffering. Alicia Phillips Mandaville, acting CEO of Anera, noted that the psychological toll on children persists even when active bombing pauses.

Macklemore pledges $1 million from Ed Sheeran tour to Palestine aid

Tareq Hailat, director of strategic engagement at the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, reported receiving continuous distress calls from individuals on the ground. The influx of attention has already catalyzed further public support, including a $1 million pledge from YouTube star and music teacher Ms. Rachel, alongside thousands of smaller contributions from everyday donors through digital platforms.