Colin Kaepernick Says Robert Kraft & Other NFL Owners Are ‘Openly Colluding’ Against Macklemore

Colin Kaepernick Says Robert Kraft & Other NFL Owners Are ‘Openly Colluding’ Against Macklemore

Colin Kaepernick is weighing in on Macklemore’s removal from #EdSheeran’s stadium tour, saying the situation reminds him of his own experience with the NFL.

During an interview with MeidasTouch, #Kaepernick said the stadium owners were working together against the rapper, who was dropped after several venues rejected him from the tour following his pro-Palestinian performances. “What Robert Kraft and what they’re saying by denying Macklemore the opportunity to go out and perform with Ed Sheeran is that they are willing to collude,” Kaepernick said. “They are openly colluding.” Macklemore had been scheduled to perform at Gillette Stadium, which is owned by New England Patriots owner #RobertKraft, on Sept. 25 and 26. Macklemore revealed that Kraft rejected his appearance and convinced other stadium owners to do the same.

Kaepernick compared the situation to his own NFL grievance, which alleged teams had conspired to keep him out of the league after he began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016. The NFL denied the allegation, and the two sides reached a confidential settlement in 2019. Kaepernick noted that the #Macklemore controversy shows how powerful owners can organize against people who challenge them, adding, “They want to protect their interests. They want to protect their power. They want to protect their money.”