AOC defends Macklemore, blasts Robert Kraft in fundraising pitch
by The Washington Times AI News Desk · The Washington TimesRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York Democrat, has inserted herself into the monthlong fight over rapper Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour, using a fundraising memo to accuse New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft of leaning on his wealth to muzzle pro-Palestinian speech.
The dispute traces back to Sept. 4, when Macklemore said “Free Palestine” while opening for Mr. Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, then performed a song referencing the Gaza Solidarity Encampment protests at Columbia University. Mr. Kraft objected to the remarks, and according to a fuller timeline of the fallout, other NFL stadium owners were also reportedly unwilling to host the tour with Macklemore on the bill; the rapper was ultimately dropped from the remaining dates.
Ms. Ocasio-Cortez cast the episode as an example of billionaires policing public discourse. “This is not just about a single musical act,” she wrote in the memo obtained by Fox News Digital, calling it “a test of how far the very powerful can go in censoring speech.” She closed the appeal by asking supporters to chip in $5 to “power this movement for a better future.”
Mr. Kraft has said he would welcome a sit-down with Macklemore “to discuss the facts,” adding that his goal was “peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate” — remarks he gave to NBC News. He has described Macklemore’s comments and imagery as part of a broader pattern he found deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community. Mr. Kraft has also pledged $2 million toward Palestinian aid organizations, matching a donation from Mr. Sheeran, after Macklemore separately gave $1 million in tour earnings to similar causes.
Mr. Kraft, a past donor to President Trump’s first inauguration, has distanced himself from the president since the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He told “The Breakfast Club” in October 2024 that he had not spoken to Mr. Trump since. His wife, Dana Blumberg, sits on the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees.
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