Ed Sheeran Tour Openers Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham & Beoga Withdraw After Macklemore Dropped For “Free Palestine” Remarks
Musiccal acts Finneas, Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe have made the decisions to drop out as openers in the North American leg of Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour following the dismissal of fellow supporting act Macklemore for his pro-Palestinian remarks at Sheeran’s New Jersey shows Sept. 4 and 5.
Finneas, brother to Billie Eilish, posted a short note on his Instagram that reads “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.”
These decisions and statements Sheeran’s statement earlier this morning on the matter of Macklemore getting dropped, which he said was the “promoter’s decision.” The “Azizam” singer confirmed that he spoke with Gillette Stadium and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who was one of the main influences in the decision to take Macklemore off of the setlist.
“I don’t take the decision lightly,” Rowe wrote in a statement posted to Instagram. “Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this. But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation.”
“I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children,” Rowe’s statement continued. “I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal. I need to be true to myself and my ancestors who resisted colonization, and fought for a freedom that I enjoy today in Ireland.”
Pop band Lukas Graham posted a statement of similar length on Instagram.
“We should be able to speak about war, about civilians being killed, about children who deserve to grow up,” he said. “Wherever they live. Whatever flag flies over them. I grew up in Christiania, a small community in Denmark where speaking your mind was part of everyday life. Having more money didn’t make your opinion worth more than anyone else’s.”
Macklemore, who specified that his “Free Palestine” comments were not a “criticism” of Jewish people, released his own statement once he was dropped from Sheeran’s tour.
RELATED: Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” Onstage Plea Sparks Petition For His Removal From Ed Sheeran Tour
“I didn’t need 10 shows from Ed. I needed 2. Two chances to stand in front of 90,000 people and say the words that somehow became too dangerous to say. Free Palestine,” the “Can’t Hold Us” rapper wrote on Instagram. “But if those words cost me the stage, while turning the conversation back to Palestine, then it was the most successful tour I’ve ever been on.”
He also drew attention to the real victims of the situation, referencing singer P!nk’s involvement in the social media circulation of response to Macklemore’s plea and then protest song performance.
“I am not a victim. Ed Sheeran is not a victim. Pink is not a victim,” he said. “We have careers, money, opportunities, safety and audiences around the world. Whatever consequences any of us face for what we say, we get to go home to our families. The victims are the Palestinian people.”
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