Former Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl defended New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s decision to ban rapper Macklemore from Gillette Stadium. Pearl called Kraft a “hero and a patriot”, arguing that Macklemore’s anti-Israel remarks and slogans crossed from political expression into antisemitic hate speech.

The dispute followed Macklemore’s comments and performance of “Hind’s Hall” during Ed Sheeran’s tour at MetLife Stadium. Kraft cited alleged antisemitic tropes, including a controversial 2014 costume, while Pearl said slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “globalise the Intifada” can carry violent or eliminationist meanings; promoters subsequently dropped Macklemore from the tour.