Zach Bryan wore a “Free Palestine” shirt while performing at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, placing the country music star at the centre of a controversy involving Macklemore, Ed Sheeran and venue owner Robert Kraft.
Bryan appeared on stage on Friday night in a black T-shirt bearing the slogan during the first of two scheduled shows at the stadium. He is performing there as part of his With Heaven On Tour, with Gregory Alan Isakov and Gabriella Rose listed as special guests.
Zach Bryan’s Free Palestine shirt follows Macklemore dispute
The appearance came around a week after Sheeran’s scheduled concerts at the same venue were cancelled because of severe weather warnings linked to a powerful nor’easter.
Macklemore had been removed from the remaining US dates of Sheeran’s Loop Tour after making pro-Palestinian comments during a performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
He later alleged that several venues had objected to his continued involvement with the tour, naming Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium, among those who did not want him to perform there.
Sheeran said venues had told the tour they would withdraw upcoming shows if Macklemore remained on the bill. He also said he had spoken directly to Kraft while efforts were made to resolve the situation, but maintained that the final decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour’s promoter.
Kraft has since confirmed that he opposed Macklemore performing at Gillette Stadium and explained his reasoning.
Macklemore has gone on to announce his own Free Palestine Tour, with proceeds due to go to organisations supporting Palestinians. The first three dates, in Dublin, Paris and London, were announced as sold out this week.
Bryan is due to perform at Gillette Stadium again on Saturday, making his choice of clothing the latest development in the dispute surrounding political expression at the venue.
