Zach Bryan Wears 'Free Palestine' Shirt at Gillette Stadium

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 27 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.

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?