Dropouts plague Ed Sheeran's tour over Macklemore's ouster

Macklemore was dropped over his pro-Palestinian stance, amid accusations of antisemitism. Sheeran said removing the artist was not his decision but that of the tour's promoters.

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran's North and South American leg of his Loop Tour was in trouble on Tuesday, as his supporting acts dropped out one after the other over the removal of rapper Macklemore from the lineup.

Macklemore said Monday that he was being dropped from the tour for his pro-Palestinian stance. Sheeran distanced himself from the decision on Tuesday, insisting the tour's promoters made the call.

Who dropped out of the Ed Sheeran tour and what did they say?

Irish acts Aaron Rowe and folk backing band Beoga announced they were leaving the tour, as did Danish band Lukas Graham and US artist Finneas, who is Billie Eilish's brother.

"Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed," Finneas said on Instagram. "I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people."

Rowe said he had not "made the decision lightly," stressing his friendship with Sheeran, whom he thanked for "chang[ing] my life."

"But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation," he wrote on Instagram.

Beoga also drew on their Irish background, saying on Instagram: "We are Irish people who understand colonialism."

"We are a traditional Irish band who never saw ourselves playing in stadiums of that size and that opportunity is not lost on us," they wrote.

Lukas Graham also stressed it was a "difficult decision."

"Money doesn't give you the right to own the conversation. Nobody's bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we're allowed to acknowledge," the band posted, in seeming reference to billionaire Robert Kraft's role in Macklemore's removal from the tour.

Why was Macklemore removed from Ed Sheeran's tour?

Macklemore said he was kicked off the Loop Tour after shouting "Free Palestine!" during the September 5 date at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium.

He was performing his protest song "Hind's Hall," about a 5-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed during the Gaza war in 2024 after a recorded phone call with paramedics following her family's killing. The Israeli military last month ordered a criminal probe into her death.  

"To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, it in no way is criticism of you," Macklemore said during the concert.

Israeli officials have steadfastly rejected accusations of conducting a genocide in Gaza.

On Monday, Macklemore said several US venues where the tour was due to perform told the promoter they would prohibit him from opening for Sheeran, adding that Gillette Stadium owner Kraft had rallied the movement against him.

Kraft on Monday said the decision to cancel Macklemore's performance was a result of his recent comments "and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community."

Sheeran has, meanwhile, focused on distancing himself from the decision.

"Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine," he wrote. "I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living."

The British singer insisted he would not take sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, "I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed."

Edited by: Sean Sinico

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