(RNS) — Who knew that Robert Kraft and Ed Sheeran went back so far? In October 2022, Sheeran sang “Perfect” for Kraft’s first dance with Dr. Dana Blumberg at their surprise Manhattan wedding and traded verses of “Candle in the Wind” with Elton John before the night was over. Sheeran later told SiriusXM it was the kind of gig a global pop star does for maybe three people on earth. The New England Patriots owner, it turns out, was one of them. That friendship is the backstory to what has become a much more difficult and painful story. Sheeran’s Loop Tour cut Macklemore as its opening act after he twice took the stage at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey calling “Free Palestine!” and accusing Israel of genocide and apartheid, as I wrote here at the time. But, I believe the true culprit was that old photograph of Macklemore performing in 2014 in a black wig, a long beard and — most importantly and offensively — an oversized prosthetic nose. I called his removal from the tour …