卡夫称希兰曾提议配对捐款200万美元用于人道援助Kraft Says Sheeran Asked for $2M Matching Aid Donation

新英格兰爱国者队老板兼吉列体育场所有者罗伯特·卡夫发布声明称，艾德·希兰曾亲自致电，要求他出资200万美元（约合150万英镑），以配对希兰本人的同等捐款，用于缓解该地区的人道主义危机。卡夫指出，希兰的通话发生在该巡演前助阵歌手麦克勒莫公开宣布向巴勒斯坦机构捐赠100万美元并向卡夫提出配捐挑战之前。卡夫表示，希兰还计划向其他巡演场馆的所有者提出捐款呼吁，双方的目标是继续共同努力“架起沟通的桥梁”。

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft stated that Ed Sheeran called him asking him to commit $2 million (£1.5 million) to match Sheeran's own donation to deliver aid in the region and address the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Kraft noted that Sheeran reached out before the tour's former opening act, rapper Macklemore, publicly pledged $1 million to Palestinian relief organizations and challenged Kraft to match it. According to Kraft's statement, Sheeran also plans to contact other venue owners to encourage matching contributions, adding that their shared goal is to continue working together to build bridges.

这是外界首次获悉希兰计划捐出200万美元人道款项，但希兰本人尚未公开说明相关捐款细节或具体的慈善安排。卡夫在此次声明中没有证实自己是否已经同意提供这笔200万美元的配捐，也没有说明潜在资金的具体流向组织。由吉列体育场代表卡夫发布的声明补充提到，卡夫希望支持巴勒斯坦民众的人士了解，他一直支持为巴勒斯坦人创造发展机会的努力。

The statement marked the first disclosure that Sheeran had proposed a $2 million aid donation, though the British musician has not publicly commented on his specific contribution or broader philanthropic plans. Kraft did not confirm in his statement whether he has formally agreed to make the $2 million matching donation or where any disbursed funds would ultimately be directed. The statement, issued by Gillette Stadium on Kraft's behalf, added that he wanted those voicing support for the Palestinian people to know he has supported efforts that create opportunities for Palestinians.

在希兰巡演早前的演出中，麦克勒莫在台上呼吁“解放巴勒斯坦”，展示了加沙的相关画面，并演唱了一首献给亲巴勒斯坦抗议者的歌曲。在表演期间，这名说唱歌手公开提及加沙正在发生“种族灭绝”——以色列对这一说法予以否认。身为犹太人的卡夫随后指责麦克勒莫在两场助阵演出中发表了仇恨言论，并在周一确认禁止麦克勒莫在波士顿附近吉列体育场举行的希兰后续演唱会上登台。

During previous support slots on Ed Sheeran's tour, Macklemore called for "free Palestine" from the stage, displayed imagery of Gaza, and performed a song dedicated to pro-Palestinian protesters. The American rapper also explicitly referred to "genocide" in Gaza—a description that Israel rejects. In response, Robert Kraft, who is Jewish, accused Macklemore of engaging in hate speech during two previous appearances and confirmed on Monday that he had banned the rapper from performing during Sheeran's upcoming dates at Gillette Stadium near Boston.

面对针对其舞台言论的批评，麦克勒莫回应表示反犹太主义确实存在，但他强调对以色列的批评以及呼吁“解放巴勒斯坦”不应与针对犹太人的仇恨混为一谈，并称对以色列的批评并非针对犹太同胞。麦克勒莫还在社交媒体上表示，希兰曾告知他，卡夫不仅拒绝让他在吉列体育场演出，还联合了其他体育场所有者向希兰发出通牒，要求麦克勒莫离开巡演阵容，否则希兰将无法在这些场馆举行演出。

Addressing the backlash against his remarks, Macklemore acknowledged that antisemitism is real, but argued that criticism of Israel and calls to "Free Palestine" should not be conflated with hatred of Jewish people, adding that criticism of Israel was not directed at his Jewish brothers and sisters. Macklemore also stated on social media that Sheeran told him Kraft would bar him from Gillette Stadium and had rallied other stadium owners to deliver an ultimatum demanding his removal from the tour as a condition for Sheeran performing at their venues.

在麦克勒莫于周一被从希兰的美国巡演阵容中除名后，其余四组助阵嘉宾——菲尼亚斯、亚伦·罗、爱尔兰民谣乐队比奥加以及丹麦乐队卢卡斯·格拉汉姆——相继在Instagram上宣布退出该巡演以示抗议。菲尼亚斯在发文中写道，当艺术家为受压迫者发声时，绝不应被噤声。这批表演嘉宾的集体退出，使巡演面临前所未有的开场阵容空缺。

Following Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran's U.S. tour on Monday, all four remaining support acts—Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Irish folk band Beoga, and Danish band Lukas Graham—announced on Instagram that they were withdrawing from the tour in protest. In his public statement, Finneas wrote that artists must not be silenced when speaking up for the oppressed. The collective boycott by all four opening acts left the remainder of the concert series without its scheduled supporting roster.

针对除名麦克勒莫引发的强烈反应，巡演主办方墨西拿巡演集团解释称，做出该决定是因为包括吉列体育场在内的部分场馆明确表态，如果麦克勒莫继续登台，他们将拒绝承办相关演唱会。主办方表示，如果麦克勒莫留在演出名单中，整个巡演将被迫取消。希兰随后也确认，除名麦克勒莫的决定是由主办方墨西拿巡演集团做出的，而非他个人所决定。

Addressing the backlash sparked by the removal, tour promoter Messina Touring Group explained that Macklemore was dropped because specific venues, including Gillette Stadium, would refuse to let the concerts take place if he performed. According to the promoter, keeping the rapper on the bill would have forced the outright cancellation of the tour. Sheeran subsequently stated that the decision to drop Macklemore was made directly by Messina Touring Group rather than by himself personally.

针对除名争议，艾德·希兰在声明中表示，自己尊重麦克勒莫坚持立场并为个人信仰发声的坚定意志。他解释称，尽管自己不使用个人平台涉足政治，但这并不意味着自己不关心时局或不以个人方式支持相关事业。尽管面临部分人士要求其取消整场巡演的呼声，希兰明确表示不愿让购票歌迷或巡演团队失望，因而选择继续推进演出行程。

Responding to the controversy, Ed Sheeran stated that he respects Macklemore's strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. The singer-songwriter explained that while he chooses not to use his own platform for politics, that does not mean he does not care or support causes in his own personal way. Despite calls from some artists to scrap the remaining dates, Sheeran stated that he intends to continue the concert series because he does not want to let down his fans or his touring crew.

巡演若全面取消，希兰及其主办方将面临承担场馆租金与门票退款等巨额资金赔偿的责任。按照日程安排，希兰的美国巡演将于周六在宾夕法尼亚州费城恢复举行，随后定于9月25日和26日在卡夫旗下的吉列体育场登台。在爱尔兰民谣乐队比奥加等全部助阵嘉宾退出后，此前曾与该乐队合作多首歌曲的希兰能够以独奏形式完成表演，演出曲目与舞台编排将相应调整。

Cancelling the tour would potentially leave Sheeran and his promoters liable for substantial financial liabilities, including ticket refunds and venue rental costs. The tour is scheduled to resume on Saturday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before heading to Kraft's Gillette Stadium on September 25 and 26. Following the withdrawal of Irish folk band Beoga, who previously accompanied him during several songs in his set, Sheeran is able to perform solo as his performance is reconfigured without supporting acts.