Zach Bryan Breaks Gillette Stadium Attendance Record in Free Palestine Shirt
Zach Bryan took the stage at Gillette Stadium on Friday wearing a black T-shirt reading 'Free Palestine.' The venue is owned by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who helped remove Macklemore from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour last month.
- Several band members also wore Palestine-branded shirts during the show.
- Bryan did not address the shirt verbally from the stage.
- 2 shows are scheduled at Gillette; Friday's first night was sold out.
- Representatives for Kraft and Gillette Stadium had not responded to comment requests.
Why it matters: The choice of venue and shirt directly echoes the controversy that engulfed the same stadium weeks earlier. Kraft confirmed in a September statement that he barred Macklemore from performing at Gillette based on the rapper's 'recent actions' and stage remarks during Sheeran's New Jersey shows.
- Macklemore declared 'Free Palestine' at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 4-5 and performed his protest song 'Hind's Hall.'
- All other acts supporting Sheeran — Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and band Beoga — withdrew from the tour after Macklemore's removal.
How 32 sources split on this story
Where they split: Outlets disagree on whether Macklemore's stage remarks constituted antisemitism or legitimate political protest — a dispute that now surrounds Bryan's shirt as well.
Center coverage, 12 sources: The center focuses on the timeline and conflict of interest — the same stadium, the same message, a powerful owner who has not yet responded.
Left coverage, 8 sources: The left frames Bryan's shirt as an act of artistic solidarity against a billionaire owner who used economic power to silence pro-Palestinian voices.
Right coverage, 12 sources: The right frames Bryan's shirt as a deliberate provocation at a Jewish owner's venue, contextualizing the 'Free Palestine' message within what it describes as anti-Israel activism.
What’s next: Bryan returns to Gillette Saturday night; Kraft has not signaled any response.
- Macklemore's Free Palestine Tour runs Oct. 26-30 in Dublin, Paris, and London; he says it sold out immediately.
- Will Kraft cancel or restrict Bryan's Saturday show, as he did with Macklemore?
- Does Bryan plan to speak publicly about the shirt or his position?
- Will other venue owners take action if artists display similar messages at their stadiums?
