Country singer Zach Bryan drew attention during a concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, after appearing onstage wearing a shirt displaying the words ‘Free Palestine’.
The performance took place at a venue owned by Robert Kraft, weeks after a public dispute involving rapper Macklemore, Ed Sheeran and the stadium owner.
Fan-recorded images and videos from the concert showed Bryan wearing a black shirt with the phrase ‘Free Palestine’.
According to reports, at least two members of his band also wore Palestine-themed clothing during the show.
Bryan did not address the shirt on the stage or make additional comments about Palestine during the performance.
Among the band members, drummer Nate Head wore a Palestine jersey bearing the name ‘Hind Rajab’ and the number five on the back, while guitarist Noah Le Gros wore a Palestinian soccer jersey.
Connection to Macklemore
Bryan’s wardrobe choice attracted particular attention because it came shortly after a dispute involving Macklemore’s participation in Ed Sheeran’s US tour.
Last month, Macklemore was removed from the remaining US dates of Sheeran’s tour after making pro-Palestinian comments during performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Macklemore had been scheduled to perform at Gillette Stadium before his removal from the tour.
At the time, Robert Kraft said Macklemore would not be allowed to perform at the venue.
In a public statement, Kraft said the decision was based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material displayed during performances and what he described as a history of anti-semitic rhetoric and imagery.
Macklemore responded by saying that criticism of Israel and support for Palestine should not be equated with antisemitism.
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Reactions follow concert
Bryan’s appearance quickly sparked discussion online, with reactions coming from both supporters and critics after images from the concert circulated on social media.
The concert was the first of two scheduled performances by Bryan at Gillette Stadium as part of his With Heaven on Tour.
While Bryan did not make a speech on the issue during the show, his decision to wear the shirt placed the concert in the wider conversation surrounding artists’ public expressions about the Israel-Hamas conflict, a subject that has generated significant debate throughout the music industry in recent months.
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