As the British singer faces the fallout over support act Macklemore being dropped from his US tour,Radhika Sanghanishines a light on Robert Kraft – the billionaire businessman at the centre of the row
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Robert Kraft’sname is all over the headlines. The billionaire businessman and owner of theNew England Patriots– as well as the now very relevant Gillette Stadium near Boston – is the reason whyEd Sheeran’s US tour (and the singer himself) could be cancelled.
It all began when rapper Macklemoremade pro-Palestinian comments on stagewhile opening for Sheeran earlier this month on his US tour. “Ed Sheeranand his team have made the decision to remove me from the Loop tour,” said Macklemore on Instagram earlier this week.
He went on to claim thatSheeran told him Kraft, 85, had called him (Sheeran)to say Macklemore would not be allowed to perform in his stadium later this month. “Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners,” he added. “And collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.”
The decision has led to support for Macklemore standing by his beliefs, as well as a resurgence of awareness aroundthe situation in Gazaand the FreePalestinemovement. His comments onSheeran’s actions, who did not stand up for the rapper in what Macklemore said was an “apolitical” stance, have also been applauded. As a result, the British artist’s tour is now in danger of being cancelled as all hisother opening acts and band quiton Tuesday in solidarity with Macklemore and Palestine.
But it has also raised a spotlight on Kraft, who is Jewish-American, a longtime donor toIsrael, a close friend ofDonald Trump, and estimated to be worth $13bn. He earned his billions by turning his father-in-law’s paper company into one of the largest paper exporters in the country, but has also faced scrutiny over the years. Most recently, he’s become part of the group ofglobal elite whose names have appeared in the Epstein files.
Of course, being named in the Epstein files is not any indication of wrongdoing whatsoever and many high-profile celebrities and businesspeople have been named in them.
Kraft previously made global headlines: back in 2019 when he was charged with two counts of soliciting prostitution – charges that were later dropped. Police claimed they’d twice captured him on a video camera secretly installed in a Florida massage parlour where he received sexual acts from Asian immigrants in exchange for money. In 2020, the charges were dropped against Kraft after judges ruled that the secret camera footage was inadmissible, and police had violated the rights of Kraft and others when they secretly installed cameras inside massage rooms at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa.
Documents in the unsealed Epstein files showJeffrey Epstein, the late paedophile and sex trafficker, telling lawyer Jack Goldberger that he was “trying” to persuade Kraft to hire him. It was in response to an email from Goldberger to Epstein in 2019 saying: “See kraft [sic] got arrested. Should take local news away from us.”
“Yes,” wrote back Epstein. “I’m trying to have him hire you.”
Goldberger is the Palm Beach attorney who helped broker aplea deal for Epstein back in 2008when Epstein was found guilty of soliciting minors for prostitution. He avoided federal sex-trafficking charges in exchange for guilty pleas and a short jail term.
Kraft, who denied the charges of soliciting prostitution, went on to hire Goldberger as part of his legal defence team. In a statement, Kraft, who pleaded not guilty, said he was “truly sorry” for his actions, adding: “I know I have hurt and disappointed my family, my close friends, my coworkers, our fans and many others who rightfully hold me to a higher standard.”
He went on to say: “The last thing I would ever want to do is disrespect another human being. I have extraordinary respect for women; my morals and my soul were shaped by the most wonderful woman, the love of my life, who I was blessed to have as my partner for 50 years,” referring to his wife Myra, who died in 2011.
Kraft’s name came up several other times in the Epstein files, most notably in another exchange between Epstein and Goldberger, when the convicted sex offender said: “you need to know about a past issue with Kraft that may come to light. Talk later.” There was no further information on what this could be referring to.
