Robert Kraft, who blocked Macklemore performances, faced solicitation charge and appeared in Epstein files

Claim: Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft, who musician Macklemore said orchestrated his removal as an opening act on Ed Sheeran's tour, once faced a solicitation charge, and his name appears in the files related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Rating: ContextKraft faced a charge of solicting prostitution in Florida, but the case was ultimately dropped as it hinged on video that was secretly recorded. Kraft's name also appears in the Epstein files multiple times, but they do not connect Kraft to Epstein's crimes and he has not been accused of any involvement in those crimes. After rapper Macklemore was dropped as an opening act on singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran's 2026 tour over his pro-Palestine stance, a rumor spread that Gillette Stadium and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft once faced a solicitation charge and appeared in the federal government's files related to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Macklemore said in an Instagram post that Kraft had orchestrated his removal from Sheeran's tour after he advocated for Palestinian freedom during a performance. Kraft confirmed in a statement provided to ESPN on Sept. 14, 2026, that he had Macklemore removed as an opening act for shows at Gillette Stadium because the venue has a "longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech." The rumor about Kraft spread on X and Facebook. On X, a post (archived) read, "This is who Ed Sheeran sided with: an Epstein-connected billionaire who was charged with soliciting prostitution": In short, the claim is true. Snopes found Kraft faced charges of "soliciting another to commit prostitution," according to the Palm Beach County, Florida, clerk's database. (Readers can verify the information directly by search for Kraft's name, the offense date of Jan. 19, 2019, and the case number 50-2019-MM-002346-AXXX-NB). However, the case was dismissed after a federal court of appeals upheld a lower court's decision to throw out video evidence. Further, it is also true that Kraft appears in the Epstein files, largely regarding the solicitation charge he faced. However, the files do not connect Kraft to Epstein's crimes, and he has not been accused of any involvement in those crimes. The Palm Beach County database shows that the charges against Kraft were filed on Feb. 25, 2019, and he was arrested the following day on misdemeanor offenses allegedly committed on Jan. 19 and 20, 2019. The case status showed it was closed. Authorities accused Kraft of paying workers at a massage parlor in Jupiter, Florida, for sex acts. However, his case hinged on a video that was secretly recorded, which Kraft's attorneys argued was an invasion of his privacy. A federal court of appeals agreed: Neither the Florida statutes, nor case law authorize covert audio surveillance to investigate prostitution-related offenses. It follows that the more intrusive video surveillance is also prohibited, providing yet another basis for affirmance. This matches information found through links to news reports we identified among the Epstein files on the U.S. Department of Justice website. A search for Kraft's name turned up 24 documents, the vast majority of which shared news articles reporting on his solicitation charge. In an email exchange between Epstein and attorney Jack Goldberger, Epstein wrote that he was "trying to have" Kraft hire Goldberger for his defense. The Palm Beach County database showed Goldberger was on Kraft's defense team. In one document containing a death announcement, Kraft is one of the email recipients copied on a message. In an email that Epstein sent to Melanie Spinella, then the assistant of former Apollo Management CEO Leon Black, Kraft is named in a link to a story by The Guardian regarding his ownership of an offshore company the paper said could help him avoid taxes in the U.S. For further reading, Snopes has examined several rumors about Kraft, including the claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin stole a Super Bowl ring from him.