Patriots owner Robert Kraft announces $2 million humanitarian aid donation in wake of Macklemore-Ed Sheeran dispute

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced Wednesday he is matching a $2 million donation from Ed Sheeran for humanitarian aid, in the wake of a dispute with rapper Macklemore over Palestine.

Not long before Kraft announced the donation, Macklemore had posted his own statement calling on Kraft to match a $1 million donation to organizations working on behalf of Palestinians. Kraft said he was actually matching a $2 million donation from Sheeran, who has reportedly approached other venue owners.

Kraft also said he has worked for decades to support Palestinians and bring them together with Israelis. The full statement:

I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting. 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. Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges. In addition, I'd like the people who are speaking in support of the Palestinian people to know that for decades, I have supported efforts that create opportunity for Palestinians and have brought young Palestinians and Israelis together to build businesses, create jobs, and forge relationships.

I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting. 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. Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges.

In addition, I'd like the people who are speaking in support of the Palestinian people to know that for decades, I have supported efforts that create opportunity for Palestinians and have brought young Palestinians and Israelis together to build businesses, create jobs, and forge relationships.

The dispute in question began after Macklemore, who has been vocal about the Israel-Palestine issue for years and has also apologized for an antisemitic costume in the past , declared "Free Palestine" before performing "Hind's Hall," a song critical of the Israeli military, at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 4.

The next night, in the face of a backlash over his statements, he addressed his "Jewish brothers and sisters" on the same stage and said " Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, is in no way a criticism of you ."

A week later, Macklemore said he would no longer be performing on Sheeran's tour.

In addition to claiming Kraft demanded his removal from the tour before it reached the Patriots' Gillette Stadium, Macklemore said that Sheeran told him Kraft "had rallied some of the other stadium owners" to issue an "ultimatum" demanding his full removal from the tour. None of the other stadium owners have been identified.

Sheeran and Kraft both released statements in the immediate aftermath of Macklemore's statement with their version of events, with Kraft citing "a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery" from Macklemore among his reasons and inviting the rapper to "sit down" with him.

The saga led to a mass exit of other musicians from the "Loop" tour. Aaron Rowe, Finneas and Lukas Graham — all of the tour's remaining opening acts — announced they were stepping away Tuesday, as did Sheeran's backing band Beoga.