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Comedian Kathy Griffin said on Wednesday that singer Ed Sheeran should have told Gillette Stadium owner and billionaire Robert Kraft to “go f— yourself” after barring Macklemore from performing as his opening act over his “Free Palestine” stunt.
In an interview with Queerty, Griffin commented on Macklemore being pulled from the rest of Sheeran’s tour earlier this month after he repeatedly pushed for a “Free Palestine” during his act and performed his anti-Israel song “Hind’s Hall.” The decision came after Kraft barred Macklemore from performing at Gillette Stadium.
Though Sheeran has said that the decision ultimately came from the concert promoter and venues rather than him, Griffin argued that Sheeran could have, and should have, defended Macklemore at the time.
MACKLEMORE’S LONG HISTORY OF CONTROVERSY FROM GRAMMY WINS TO ‘FREE PALESTINE’ CONCERT REMARKS
Kathy Griffin criticized Ed Sheeran and defended Macklemore during an interview with Queerty. (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
“I wish that Ed Sheeran had not taken the advice of the ones who told him to fire Macklemore,” Griffin said. “Let’s not be listening to f—— Robert Kraft. When Robert Kraft says I’ve called all the other stadium owners and they’re not gonna let you do the show with Macklemore either, Ed Sheeran should’ve said go f— yourself, I can go to Brazil and perform for 250,000 people. He had more options.”
Griffin added that Macklemore’s comments were protected under the First Amendment and professed her own support for a “Free Palestine.”
“I don’t think ‘Free Palestine’ is such a controversial thing to say because that’s a genuine genocide that is happening there, in my opinion. I don’t want Israel to be eradicated. I love the Israeli people as I hope the rest of the world likes the American people but hates [President Donald] Trump and his cabinet and our current SCOTUS. So I can’t stand [Israeli Prime Minister] Bibi Netanyahu. I think he’s ruined the Knesset which is their Congress. But I certainly don’t have a beef with the Jewish people or the Palestinian people. They’re both trying to survive. I personally think that Palestine should be its own country,” Griffin said.
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Macklemore (right) was removed from Ed Sheeran’s (left) tour earlier this month. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Digital reached out to Sheeran’s and Kraft’s representatives for comment.
In response to being removed from Sheeran’s tour, Macklemore announced on Thursday that he would be launching his own “Free Palestine Tour.” As of now, he has three shows scheduled: in Dublin on Oct. 26, in Paris on Oct. 29 and in London on Oct. 30.
Though Macklemore has received support from progressive figures for his political actions, the singer has also faced criticism from pro-Israel organizations who accused him of supporting antisemitism.
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The Israeli-American Council (IAC) released a statement to Digital supporting Kraft’s actions pushing back against Macklemore.
The Israeli-American Council (IAC) supported Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft after he barred Macklemore from performing after his “Free Palestine” chant. (AFP via Getty Images)
“The Israeli-American Council (IAC) applauds Robert Kraft and his fellow stadium owners for their moral leadership in expelling rapper Macklemore from the concert stage rather than allow him to promote antisemitism,” the statement read.
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It added, “Robert Kraft’s moral leadership establishes what should be an obvious principle: a performer who traffics in antisemitism should not be given a stage. As a result, Macklemore will no longer be allowed to subject audiences to his hateful rants. The IAC salutes and thanks Mr. Kraft for setting an example for all to follow.”
‘ Emily Trainham contributed to this report.
