Zach Bryan Sets Gillette Stadium Attendance Record in "Free Palestine" Shirt

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Zach Bryan broke a record while performing at Gillette Stadium in a “Free Palestine” shirt , just weeks after Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran ‘s tour ahead of his shows at the Robert Kraft -owned stadium over his pro- Palestine speeches.

Bryan wore a “Free Palestine” shirt during his Friday and Saturday night shows for his With Heaven On Tour. He reportedly did not address the shirt or comment further onstage about Palestine.

“Tonight, Zach Bryan broke the Gillette Stadium attendance record with 73,538 fans!” Gillette Stadium wrote on his official Instagram page Saturday.

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The Hollywood Reporter previously reached out to Kraft’s rep for comment.

Bryan’s “Free Palestine” shirt comes amid controversy surrounding Macklemore after the rapper was dropped as an opener for Sheeran‘s Loop Tour last month after making headlines for his pro-Palestine speeches during his performances. At the time, the tour promoter stated that upcoming venues hosting shows, including Gillette Stadium, threatened to pull out if Macklemore remained on the lineup.

In response to being dropped from the tour, Macklemore alleged that Kraft “rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.” Sheeran’s tour was slated to play at Kraft’s Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts at the end of September (the shows were ultimately canceled last minute due to severe weather).

Kraft defended his decision, writing in his own statement at the time, “Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech. Based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line.”

Macklemore later invited Kraft to match his $1 million donation to support Palestinian people. In response, the New England Patriots owner said he plans “to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis.”

Sheeran previously released his own lengthy statement on the matter, saying in part, “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me.”

The “Shape of You” singer added that he also “spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge” and “was also involved in direct talks with promoters along with activists on both sides to try and find a mutual resolution for all, but the venue’s and promoter’s decision was final.”

Sheeran further addressed the backlash during his concert in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Stadium on Sept. 19. “I am trying in my career not to be a political commentator of any kind because I want my music and shows to be about unity, not division. About humanity, not politics,” he told the crowd. “But, this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.

“What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on October 7th was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable, and disproportionate,” the artist added.

Amid the fallout, Finneas, Danish pop band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe, who were all expected to open for Sheeran on tour, also dropped out in solidarity with Macklemore.

The rapper also later announced his own “Free Palestine” Tour, revealing last week that “all three shows sold out immediately.”

Read More About:

- Ed Sheeran - Israeli-Palestinian conflict - Macklemore - music - Palestine - Robert Kraft - Zach Bryan

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Zach Bryan

Zach Bryan Wears ‘Free Palestine’ Shirt During Concert at Robert Kraft’s Gillette Stadium

_Originally reported by [Hollywood Reporter Music](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/zach-bryan-breaks-gillette-stadium-record-free-palestine-shirt-1236721893/)._