Zach Bryan Wears 'Free Palestine' Shirt Onstage at Kraft's Gillette Stadium

Zach Bryan didn't say a word about politics Friday night. He didn't have to. At Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts — the venue owned by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft — Bryan took the stage in a black cutoff T-shirt bearing the words 'Free Palestine' in white letters, the same phrase that had led to rapper Macklemore's removal from that same stage weeks before.

The concert was the first of a two-night run at Gillette Stadium on Bryan's With Heaven On Tour. Members of his band also wore pro-Palestinian attire. Fan videos and photos spread quickly across social media. Bryan did not address the shirt from the stage, and neither Kraft nor the stadium had publicly responded as of Friday night, according to multiple outlets.

Macklemore noticed. The rapper shared a photo of Bryan performing on stage with the caption '👀 Robert Kraft 🇵🇸,' according to Vulture.

The shirt's full text read 'Free Palestine' and 'An Appeal to Heaven,' accompanied by a pine tree logo. CBS News, drawing on a 2024 Associated Press article, notes that 'An Appeal to Heaven' is a phrase with roots in the Revolutionary War era; it appeared on Massachusetts's official maritime flag until 1971 and expressed the colonists' conviction that God would free them from tyranny.

The backdrop to Bryan's choice is a controversy that has roiled the music world since early September. At MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sept. 4 — during an Ed Sheeran tour stop — Macklemore performed his song 'Hind's Hall,' chanting 'Free Palestine' repeatedly while footage from the war in Gaza was projected behind him. Kraft, whose company owns Gillette Stadium, subsequently called Sheeran and told him Macklemore would not be permitted to perform at the venue.

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.— Robert Kraft, New England Patriots owner and Gillette Stadium owner

Sheeran ultimately agreed to remove Macklemore not just from the Gillette dates but from all remaining U.S. tour stops. Every other supporting act — Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, Finneas, and house band Beoga — withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Sheeran's two Gillette Stadium shows, originally scheduled for Sept. 25 and 26, were ultimately canceled due to severe weather.

I spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge. One of those people was Robert Kraft. I 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.— Ed Sheeran

I've never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet.— Ed Sheeran

In an Instagram post responding to his removal, Macklemore wrote that 'Antisemitism is real,' while contending that criticizing Israel and saying 'Free Palestine' are not the same as harboring hatred toward Jewish people. He subsequently pledged to donate $1 million to support Palestinians and called on Kraft to match the contribution. According to CBS News, Kraft put out a statement indicating he had already been in contact with Sheeran regarding the pop star's own pledge to donate $2 million. Macklemore has since announced a Free Palestine Tour for this fall; Gillette Stadium is not among its stops.

Bryan's appearance at the same venue immediately reignited the debate online. Some social media users celebrated the gesture as a courageous political statement; others argued that concertgoers don't buy tickets to receive political messages. One commenter, per Fox News, defended Bryan's right to wear the shirt while disagreeing with the position: 'He didn't stand there and preach his politics. It's a shirt. He sang songs what he's supposed to do.' Another called on Kraft to cancel Bryan's remaining show, arguing he should be held to the same standard applied to Macklemore.

A Grammy winner at 30, Bryan is recognized for songs including 'Something in the Orange,' 'I Remember Everything' featuring Kacey Musgraves, and 'Pink Skies.' According to NBC News, he spent several years in the U.S. Navy while keeping up his songwriting and recording. A second performance at Gillette Stadium was on his schedule for Saturday night, completing a two-night stand at the venue.

Underlying these disputes is an ongoing conflict: according to local health authorities cited by NBC News, Israel's war in Gaza has resulted in more than 70,000 deaths. The war began after Hamas carried out attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in which more than 1,200 people were killed.

Why it matters — Bryan's silent statement at Gillette Stadium — the exact venue where Macklemore was barred — tests whether Kraft will apply the same standard to a country superstar that he applied to a rapper, and keeps a live debate about free speech, venue power, and the Gaza war at the center of American pop culture.

Sources differ on Whether Macklemore's pro-Palestinian statements constitute antisemitism: Kraft stated Macklemore has 'a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery' and that his participation would 'cross the line' of providing a platform for hate speech. (cbsnews.com) vs Macklemore posted that 'Antisemitism is real' but argued criticizing Israel and saying 'Free Palestine' should not be conflated with hatred of Jewish people. (cbsnews.com)

Reported by thehill.com, variety.com, nbcnews.com, cbsnews.com, foxnews.com, cnn.com, billboard.com, vulture.com, hollywoodreporter.com