Zach Bryan wore a "Free Palestine" shirt at Robert Kraft's Gillette Stadium on Friday, less than a month after the Patriots owner helped push Macklemore off Ed Sheeran's tour over similar onstage statements.
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| Zach Bryan wore a black shirt reading "FREE PALESTINE" during his Oct. 2, 2026 concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. |
Zach Bryan took the stage at Gillette Stadium on Friday night wearing a black T-shirt with white lettering that read "FREE PALESTINE," a message that put him directly at odds with the man who owns the building.
The shirt also featured a pine tree design and the phrase "AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN," a reference to a flag and slogan tied to an American Revolutionary campaign connected to George Washington's command of the Continental Army. The National Park Service has described the slogan as reflecting the belief among some colonists that God could be called on to help them defend their natural rights.
Bryan was not alone in making the statement. Several members of his band wore Palestine-branded clothing during the show, according to fan footage and photos that spread quickly on social media. Guitarist Noah Le Gros wore a green Palestine soccer jersey onstage and later shared a photo of himself in the shirt standing in front of Kraft Sports and Entertainment signage at the venue.
Bryan did not appear to address the shirt from the stage. Representatives for Kraft did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Why the venue matters
Gillette Stadium is owned by the Kraft Group, which is led by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. The location of Bryan's statement is difficult to separate from what happened at the same venue's broader ownership network just weeks earlier.
In early September, Macklemore used his opening sets for Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to declare "Free Palestine" and perform his 2024 protest song "Hind's Hall." During the Sept. 4 and 5 shows, he wore a black-and-white keffiyeh and spoke about the war, saying he wanted "every single human being" to have freedom. On the second night, he addressed Jewish fans directly, saying his criticism of the Israeli government was not aimed at them.
According to reporting on the events, several NFL owners who were scheduled to host Sheeran's tour threatened to pull the shows because they did not want the rapper's political speeches at their venues. The Israeli-American Council launched a petition calling for his removal.
Tour promoter Messina Touring Group reportedly assured the owners that Macklemore would not share anti-Israel messages during the second night at MetLife. He did not follow that instruction, and footage of Gaza and anti-Israel protests appeared on screens behind him onstage.
"Free Palestine. I want those words to be clear so that people from Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten them," Macklemore said during the performance, according to reporting on his remarks. He also said the next song was inspired by Columbia University students who led an encampment movement.
On Sept. 14, Messina Touring Group confirmed that Macklemore would no longer appear on the remaining U.S. dates. Kraft confirmed his own involvement in a statement that same day, saying he felt a responsibility to speak up when he believed a line had been crossed on antisemitism, while acknowledging that Palestinian suffering is real.
Sheeran responded the following day, saying the removal was the promoter's decision rather than his own and that he had spoken directly with Kraft while trying to find a resolution. Kraft and Sheeran, who have a long-standing relationship, also discussed donations to Palestinian relief efforts. According to a statement from Kraft, Sheeran called him and asked him to commit $2 million to match a donation aimed at aiding the region and addressing the humanitarian crisis.
Fallout from the Macklemore decision
The removal set off a chain of departures. Fellow openers Finneas, Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham exited the tour in solidarity, as did Irish folk band Beoga, which had been performing with Sheeran. Finneas, who had been slated to appear on seven dates, wrote that artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed and said he stood with Palestine and its people.
Macklemore responded with a lengthy Instagram post detailing the money, brand deals, festivals and private shows he said his advocacy had cost him. He pledged $1 million from his touring earnings to Palestinian aid organizations and announced a Free Palestine Tour, a short European run hitting Dublin, Paris and London from Oct. 26 to 30. He has since said the shows sold out immediately.
In a Sept. 24 Instagram post, Macklemore wrote that the previous couple of weeks had shown that something had shifted over the last three years, describing what he called a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation, the power of billionaires who try to censor that call, and what people expect from artists.
Sheeran never performed at Foxborough in the end. His two Gillette Stadium dates were scrapped because of severe weather conditions, even after the tour had bowed to the venue owners' demands.
Bryan's history of friction
Bryan has rarely avoided conflict with powerful figures. In October 2025, a teaser of his song "Bad News," which references ICE raids, drew public criticism from the Department of Homeland Security and the White House. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said at the time that she was disappointed by the clip. Bryan pushed back, arguing that the song spoke to both sides of the political aisle and urging fans not to let social media narratives divide them. The track ultimately appeared on his album "With Heaven on Top," released Jan. 9, 2026.
Friday's concert kicked off a two-night run at Gillette Stadium as part of the closing leg of Bryan's "With Heaven On Tour." The shows were sold out.
Bryan is scheduled to return to Gillette Stadium on Saturday for the second night of his Foxborough stand. Whether the shirt appears again, and whether Kraft responds, are the questions now hanging over the weekend.
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| New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium, has not publicly responded to Zach Bryan's shirt. |
What to watch next
Kraft has not publicly commented on Bryan's shirt or on the matching band apparel. The Patriots owner's earlier statement about the Macklemore situation focused on what he described as a line being crossed on antisemitism, and it is not clear whether he views Bryan's stage attire the same way.
For Bryan, the move fits a pattern of statements that have drawn attention from political figures without him directly addressing the controversy from the stage. For the broader touring industry, the episode highlights how venue owners and promoters are now weighing artist speech against business relationships in ways that can reshape entire tours.
Bryan's second Gillette show is set for Saturday night, and the venue has not announced any changes to the performance.