Dave Portnoy Weighs In On Macklemore’s Antisemitism Controversy

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy threw his support behind New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft on Wednesday after Kraft banned Macklemore from opening for Ed Sheeran at Gillette Stadium. 

Macklemore’s anti-Israel rants on stage led to a wave of backlash, and the rapper was ultimately removed from Sheeran’s tour.

While performing before Sheeran took the stage, Macklemore told fans at one concert, “A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: ‘Free Palestine.”

He added, “I said, ‘Free Palestine!’ I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them.”

Portnoy said that Macklemore’s stance goes deeper than just that statement.

“Macklemore is essentially turning this into a political rally,” he said, pointing to the Palestinian flag and graphic imagery from the war displayed during the rapper’s performance.

“Bob Kraft, I am sure, did what I did when I saw this. He researched Macklemore,” Portnoy added.

Portnoy pointed to several past controversies involving the rapper, including a 2014 performance in which Macklemore wore a large fake nose and beard that appeared to be an antisemitic caricature. Macklemore later apologized and denied that he was attempting to portray a Jewish caricature.

“I acknowledge how the costume could, within a context of stereotyping, be ascribed to a Jewish caricature,” he said in 2014. “I am here to say that it was absolutely not my intention and unfortunately at the time I did not foresee the costume to be viewed in such regard.”

Portnoy then turned to Macklemore’s past comments about the September 11 terrorist attacks and his outspoken criticism of Israel immediately following Hamas’ October 7 attack. 

“If you don’t know, Bob Kraft has spent the last ten years of his life aggressively fighting antisemitism and hate,” Portnoy, a diehard Patriots fan, told his followers. “I’ve been to Gillette, and they have an antisemitism war room where they track all the hatred that’s going on in the country. That’s who Bob Kraft is, and he owns Gillette Stadium.”

Portnoy argued that Macklemore was effectively coming “into Bob Kraft’s house” and spitting “in his face.”

“This isn’t freedom of speech, homie. He owns the stadium. It’s his house,” he said. “Would you have a party and invite someone over who is going to spew what you consider hatred?” 

Portnoy ended his video with an emphatic defense of Kraft, saying, “I don’t stand with Bob Kraft 5%, 10%. … I stand with Bob Kraft 110%. More Jews have to speak out. That’s why I am making this video, because it’s really easy for everyone just to pile on right now, but I have his back a hundred million percent.”

Conservative pundit Mark Levin said he agreed with Portnoy, “100%.” Other comments weren’t as supportive of Portnoy. Some social media users attacked Portnoy over his support for Israel, and at least one user even called out Portnoy’s Jewish heritage writing, “He’s a Jew that’s why he backs Robert Kraft.” Another person said, “The man who wrote a book called Cancel Me If You Can is celebrating Billionaires canceling Macklemore. The irony is not lost on anyone.” 

Sheeran is also facing backlash from the incident. Macklemore said that Sheeran is in a difficult position but ultimately “told him that if those words were more offensive than tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a fundamental disconnect between where those people stood and where I stood.” He said Sheeran “couldn’t get past his public facing, ‘I don’t take sides.’” 

Other artists backed out of Sheeran’s tour, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe.

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