The controversy surrounding Ed Sheeran's concerts turns into charitable donations and cooperation initiatives

Rapper Macklemore announced on Wednesday that he would donate $1 million, the entire net profit from his later-cancelled participation in Ed Sheeran's tour, to six organizations that support the Palestinian people. Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots football team, also called for a similar step. “No matter where we disagree, perhaps we can agree on one thing: that Palestinian lives are worth supporting,” Macklemore wrote.

“I have dedicated a significant portion of my life to building bridges between all people, and I deeply believe that all lives deserve to be protected,” Kraft said in a statement. The two sides were at loggerheads this week, after Kraft used his position as stadium owner to help exclude Macklemore from Sheeran's tour, accusing him of having a "record of anti-Semitic rhetoric and images," and expressing his dissatisfaction with "material shown on stage," which he did not precisely specify. During the tour, Macklemore chanted "Free Palestine" and expressed his support for the Palestinians.

In response to Macklemore's exclusion, other artists who were co-opening acts for Sheeran's concerts also pulled out. Kraft stated that he also received a request from Sheeran, where the latter asked him to commit to providing two million dollars “to help in the region and confront this humanitarian crisis.”

Kraft's statement noted that for decades it has been "supporting efforts that create opportunities for Palestinians, and bring Palestinian and Israeli youth together to build businesses, provide job opportunities, and form relationships." Kraft's statement did not mention that it would make an additional donation at this time, but it stressed that its goal, in cooperation with Sheeran and other stadium owners, is to "continue working together to build bridges."

“Writing out a check for money is one of the least expensive and effortless forms of solidarity” for him, Macklemore wrote in his statement.