Zach Bryan Stirs Controversy with 'Free Palestine' Statement at Robert Kraft's Stadium

Grammy winner Zach Bryan made a notable political statement during his "With Heaven On Tour" stop at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on Friday, October 2. Bryan wore a black T-shirt emblazoned with “Free Palestine,” a fashion choice echoed by members of his band. Fan footage quickly circulated on social media, though Bryan himself did not publicly address the shirt from the stage.

Bryan’s choice of wardrobe and venue is particularly significant given recent events involving Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft. Weeks prior, Kraft, who leads the New England Patriots-owning Kraft Group, played a pivotal role in the removal of rapper Macklemore from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour. Macklemore’s removal stemmed from his pro-Palestinian statements made during his opening sets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on September 4 and 5, where he declared “Free Palestine” and performed his 2024 protest song “Hind’s Hall.” On the second night, Macklemore clarified his stance to Jewish fans, stating his criticism was directed at the Israeli government, not at them.

Following an online petition launched by the Israeli-American Council, tour promoter Messina Touring Group confirmed Macklemore’s departure on September 14. Reports indicated that multiple NFL stadium owners had threatened to cancel shows if Macklemore remained on the bill. Robert Kraft confirmed his involvement in a statement the same day, asserting his responsibility to speak up when he believed a line on antisemitism had been crossed, while also acknowledging the reality of Palestinian suffering. Ed Sheeran issued his own statement the following day, clarifying that the decision to remove Macklemore was the promoter’s, not his, and that he had engaged in direct conversations with Kraft to seek a resolution.

The fallout from Macklemore’s removal was extensive. Fellow opening acts Finneas, Aaron Rowe, and Lukas Graham, along with Irish folk band Beoga (who performed with Sheeran), all exited the tour in solidarity. Macklemore detailed the financial impact of his advocacy in a lengthy Instagram post, citing losses in money, brand deals, festivals, and private shows. He subsequently pledged $1 million from his touring earnings to Palestinian aid organizations and announced a “Free Palestine Tour,” a short European run through Dublin, Paris, and London from October 26 to 30, which reportedly sold out immediately.

Ironically, despite the tour’s compliance with the venue owners' demands regarding Macklemore, Ed Sheeran’s own two Gillette Stadium dates were ultimately scrapped the previous weekend due to severe weather conditions, meaning Sheeran never performed in Foxborough.

Zach Bryan has a history of not shying away from friction with powerful figures. In October 2025, a teaser for his song “Bad News,” which contained references to ICE raids, drew public criticism from the Department of Homeland Security and the White House. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressed disappointment in the clip at the time. Bryan pushed back, arguing that the song addressed both sides of the political spectrum and urged fans to resist social media narratives that foster division. The track eventually appeared on his album “With Heaven on Top,” released on January 9, 2026.

All eyes remained on Gillette Stadium for Bryan’s second scheduled performance in Foxborough on Saturday, October 3, to see if the controversial shirt would reappear and whether Robert Kraft, who had yet to publicly respond to Bryan’s actions, would take any further action. Representatives for Kraft did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Bryan’s statement.