Ed Sheeran’s upcoming tour has come under fire after several opening acts announced their withdrawal in support of rapper Macklemore. The remaining U.S. support acts Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe, along with FINNEAS, who was booked for South American dates, have all stepped away from the ‘LOOP’ Tour after Macklemore was removed. Sheeran’s backing band Beoga has also decided to leave the tour, citing shared values and their Irish heritage.
FINNEAS shared a statement on Instagram saying artists should not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed, according to Consequence. He added that he had decided to withdraw from his upcoming tour dates with Sheeran and that he stood with Palestine and its people. FINNEAS was scheduled to join Sheeran for dates in South America later this year, while Rowe and Lukas Graham were due to appear on remaining U.S. dates, according to ABC News.
Lukas Graham also posted on social media, expressing his belief that people should be able to speak about war and suffering without fear of being silenced. He emphasized that money should not determine who gets to voice their opinions on global issues. Graham expressed gratitude to Sheeran but said leaving the tour was a difficult decision.
Aaron Rowe also posted a message on Instagram, saying that he did not take the decision to leave lightly. He described Sheeran as a friend who had changed his life and thanked him for the opportunities given. Rowe said he could not support a situation where powerful individuals silence voices speaking out against Israeli actions in Gaza.
Beoga also shared their reasons for leaving the tour, highlighting their Irish identity and understanding of colonialism. The band said they believe in dialogue to help address the Palestinian people’s struggles and that they supported Macklemore’s message. They also mentioned being part of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement and their commitment to justice.
Macklemore was removed from the tour after his pro-Palestinian comments at two concerts in New Jersey. He spoke out against Israel’s war in Gaza and shared images of the destruction in Gaza during his performances. His actions led to pressure from several venues, including one owned by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. The Israeli American Council had also circulated a petition calling for Macklemore to be removed from the tour.
Kraft reportedly threatened to block Sheeran’s concert at Gillette Stadium if Macklemore remained on the lineup. Macklemore claimed Kraft also encouraged other stadium owners to act similarly. Kraft later confirmed that Macklemore would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium. Kraft said the decision was based on what he described as Macklemore’s recent actions and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery. He also said the decision was not meant to diminish the suffering of innocent Palestinians or deny people the right to advocate for them.
Sheeran responded by saying he had tried to find a way for Macklemore to stay on the tour but was unsuccessful. He also said that while he holds personal views on Palestine, he chose not to speak publicly about the matter. Sheeran added that he was not complicit in the situation and that his silence did not mean he didn’t care.
He expressed respect for Macklemore’s courage to stand up for what he believes in. Macklemore noted that criticism of Israel does not equate to criticism of Jewish people.
Macklemore was scheduled to perform at eight of the ten remaining shows on Sheeran’s stadium tour. The tour is set to resume in Philadelphia this Saturday.
Messina Touring Group has said venues on upcoming U.S. dates told the promoter they would not allow concerts to take place with Macklemore on the lineup. The promoter said keeping him on the bill could have led to tour cancellations affecting hundreds of thousands of fans.