The entertainment world just got a sharp rebuke from an unexpected corner: Dolly Parton's sister, Stella Parton. The singer and actress took to social media to slam the New England Patriots' decision to drop rapper Macklemore from the lineup at Gillette Stadium, and she didn't hold back.
On Monday, Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced that Macklemore would no longer open for Ed Sheeran's two September concerts at the stadium, citing the rapper's recent pro-Palestinian statements and what Kraft described as a 'broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.' But Stella Parton, who has been vocal on political issues since 2016, sees it as a dangerous precedent.
'I'm here to sound the alarm again today as I've been doing since 2016. We are in a dire situation when a performer is pulled from a tour for simply calling out genocide in Gaza,' she wrote on X, where she has 178,000 followers.
The controversy erupted after Macklemore, who was serving as the opening act for Sheeran's Loop Tour, publicly voiced support for Palestine. According to the rapper, Sheeran called him to deliver the news, saying that Kraft had rallied other stadium owners and issued an ultimatum: if Macklemore stayed on the tour, Sheeran would lose access to their venues.
'Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues,' Macklemore wrote. He added that Sheeran told him the words 'Free Palestine' and images of Palestinian flags were 'hurtful' to many people he spoke with.
Macklemore fired back: 'I told him that if those words were more offensive than the 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.'
Kraft, who is Jewish, defended the decision in a statement, saying, 'Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech.' He cited Macklemore's recent actions, including material shared from the stage during shows in New Jersey, and his history of antisemitic rhetoric.
But Kraft also left the door open for dialogue. 'I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same — peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate,' he told NBC News. He added that much of his time and attention for the last decade has been focused on fighting antisemitism and hate of all kinds.
Stella Parton's criticism aligns with a growing chorus of voices questioning the decision. The Patriots, who are 0-1 on the season, will host the Steelers in Week 2, but the off-field controversy is likely to linger. As the debate over censorship and free speech in sports continues, this clash between a billionaire owner and a politically outspoken artist has become a flashpoint.
For more on the intersection of sports and politics, check out our coverage of the Giants' warning to the Cowboys and other stories that highlight the growing tension in the sports world.
