Lorde takes aim at Robert Kraft with ‘Free Palestine’ jacket

• Lorde wore a handmade jacket bearing a “Free Palestine” message during her Austin City Limits performance.
• She later posted a photo of the jacket on Instagram Stories and referenced Robert Kraft.
• The gesture comes weeks after Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour following his pro-Palestinian remarks.

Lorde appeared to take aim at billionaire Robert Kraft during the fallout over rapper Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s tour, wearing a jacket emblazoned with a “Free Palestine” message at the Austin City Limits festival in Texas.

The singer performed at the festival on Oct. 3. Two days later, she shared a photo of the jacket on Instagram Stories. The garment had been decorated with handwritten messages, with “FREE PALESTINE!!!!!!” displayed prominently along the bottom.

Lorde also wrote “@mr.robertkraft” over the image.

The controversy over Kraft

The apparent message to Kraft comes amid a dispute that began after Macklemore voiced support for Palestinians during performances as an opening act on Sheeran’s Loop tour.

During a Sep. 5 performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Macklemore called for a free Palestine while introducing his protest song “Hind’s Hall.” He also displayed imagery connected to the war in Gaza.

Macklemore subsequently said he had been removed from the tour after several US venues objected to his continued participation. Sheeran said the decision was made by the tour’s promoter, Messina Touring Group, rather than by him.

Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium, said the decision followed what he described as Macklemore’s recent comments as well as what he characterized as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery. 

The dispute prompted several other artists associated with Sheeran’s tour to withdraw. Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga were among those who announced they would no longer participate.

Macklemore later pledged $1 million from his tour earnings to organizations supporting Palestinians and challenged Kraft to match the donation. Kraft subsequently said he would commit $2 million to humanitarian organizations in the region after speaking with Sheeran.

Lorde’s pro-Palestinian history

Lorde has previously expressed support for Palestinians. Billboard reported that she had used a 2025 performance at New York’s Madison Square Garden to chant in support of a free Palestine while performing “Team.”

Her appearance at Austin City Limits adds to a series of public statements and gestures by musicians following the Sheeran-Macklemore dispute, which has expanded into a broader debate over political expression, venue influence and the role of artists in addressing the assault on Gaza.

Read more: Zach Bryan wears ‘Free Palestine’ shirt at Robert Kraft-owned Gillette Stadium