Country singer Zach Bryan defiantly wears 'Free Palestine' shirt while performing at Robert Kraft-owned stadium… after Ed Sheeran tour drama

Zach Bryan made a defiant statement as he took the stage at Gillette Stadium clad in a shirt reading 'Free Palestine' on Friday night.

The 30-year-old country singer performed at Robert Kraft's stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, weeks after the 85-year-old businessman banned Macklemore from playing there over pro-Palestine comments he made on Ed Sheeran's tour.

Bryan is scheduled for back-to-back shows at the venue, with his second one slated for Saturday night.

Following his onstage speech at MetLife Stadium last month, Macklemore shared on Instagram that Sheeran told him Kraft – who owns Gillette Stadium through his holding company, the Kraft Group – called him with an ultimatum. 

'Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium. Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues,' he wrote.

Friday night kicked off Bryan's With Heaven On Tour, with special guests Gregory Alan Isakov and Gabriella Rose. 

According to TMZ, members of Bryan's band were also wearing 'Free Palestine' shirts. 

After Macklemore spoke out about his removal from the remaining dates of Sheeran's Loop tour, the British musician released his own statement on Instagram, saying it wasn't his decision to ax Macklemore, but rather the promoter's.

'I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living,' the singer-songwriter said.

Sheeran said he has personal views on the 'devastating' Israel-Palestine conflict, but made the choice 'not to speak publicly.'

He subsequently faced criticism from other artists, including Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, who bashed him on social media for not taking a stand against the decision.

Billie Eilish's brother, Finneas, pulled out of scheduled appearances in Sheeran's tour dates, stating that 'artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.'

Tour openers Aaron Rowe, the band Lukas Graham, plus Sheeran's longtime backing band Beoga followed suit – leaving the headliner to continue by himself.

In his first return to the stage after the fallout, Sheeran addressed the backlash. 

At his Philadelphia concert on September 19, the musician told concertgoers that he'd just been through 'one of the worst weeks of my life.'

He added: 'I really didn’t know whether this tour would be carrying on. I really didn’t know whether I’d even be getting on stage again, whether I even wanted to be an artist at all. In these situations, you really find out who your friends are, and it’s been a weird week.' 

In his statement to fans, he stated: 'I've had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I'm so, so sorry.'

He said elsewhere in the speech 'I don't want to disappoint fans and I've never wanted to be an activist musician. But this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech in the most complex political issue on the planet.'

The pop star continued: 'Our concerts have always been a safe space for everyone, and that matters hugely to me. Honoring my commitment to my fans is also completely central to who I am and that is why I'm here tonight, on my own, and continuing my own tour.'

He went on to say: 'I am deeply worried about the idea that venues pre-approved content performance. This happens in so many places that I've gone around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.'

Meanwhile, Macklemore has since announced a Macklemore & Friends Free Palestine tour, which sold out immediately.

'All three shows sold out immediately,' the Grammy winner revealed on Instagram this week. 

'I’m honestly blown away. We put these shows together fast and in community, believing that musicians can stand in solidarity with Palestine, use the stage to raise funds and show what collective action can look like.' 

He had previously shared that he would be embarking on the three-date tour with artists who have 'used their stages to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, regardless of the consequences.'

The tour will stop in Dublin on October 26, Paris on October 29, and London on October 30.