AOC Accuses Patriots Owner Robert Kraft of Lining Up NFL Stadiums Against Macklemore After His “Free Palestine” Performance: “Censor Speech in That One Specific Way”
Yahoo News
Last updated: September 16, 2026
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has accused New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft of orchestrating a plan to censor specific political speech at NFL stadiums. This accusation stems from the removal of rapper Macklemore from an event after his performance that included "Free Palestine" messaging.
- The core accusation is that Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, allegedly collaborated with other stadium owners to preemptively remove artists who might engage in political protests, specifically referencing "Free Palestine" sentiments.
- Ocasio-Cortez claims this is a targeted effort to silence speech in a particular manner, suggesting a coordinated strategy within the NFL's stadium network to prevent certain political messages from being broadcast.
- The context involves Macklemore's performance where he advocated for Palestine, leading to his subsequent removal from the event.
- This incident has prompted Ocasio-Cortez to call out Kraft, implying a broader policy or understanding among stadium owners to control artists' public statements, particularly concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- The alleged censorship is described as a deliberate act to control the narrative and prevent political expression on these sensitive topics within stadium venues.
