Country star Zach Bryan ignited a political firestorm Friday night by wearing a “Free Palestine” shirt onstage at Robert Kraft’s Gillette Stadium.
The shirt displayed a pine tree and the phrase “Appeal to Heaven,” symbols tied to the American Revolutionary War.
Guitarist Noah Le Gros amplified the statement, appearing in a green Palestinian soccer jersey during the performance.
Bryan did not address the apparel or elaborate onstage, but he is scheduled to headline another show at the same venue Saturday as part of his With Heaven On Tour series, which wraps up next weekend in Alabama.
Background: Macklemore’s Tour Exit
Gillette Stadium belongs to Robert Kraft, whose company pressured Ed Sheeran’s promoter to drop rapper Macklemore from the remainder of Sheeran’s The Loop tour.
Macklemore faced backlash after delivering anti‑Israel remarks while opening for Sheeran, prompting the touring group to remove him following “discussions with stakeholders,” according to Messina Touring Group.
The rapper claimed Kraft, a Jewish owner of the Patriots and Gillette Stadium, blocked his performance and rallied other venue owners to enforce an ultimatum, a claim first reported by The Daily Wire.
Messina Touring Group confirmed multiple venues refused to host a concert with Macklemore on the lineup, citing stakeholder discussions.
Bryan’s Prior Political Statements
This isn’t Bryan’s first foray into political commentary; he sparked controversy last year with the anti‑ICE track “Bad News,” which drew serious backlash.
His recent shirt choice aligns with a broader wave of artists using concerts to voice support for Palestine, a move that follows Macklemore’s own Free Palestine charity concert and public criticism of Sheeran for remaining neutral.
