Ed Sheeran’s US tour in chaos as supporting acts, band quit after Macklemore axed

Ed Sheeran’s opening acts and a touring band have pulled out of his Loop tour after US rapper Macklemore was dropped for expressing support for Palestine on stage.

Artists Finneas and Aaron Rowe, Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish folk quintet Beoga posted black-and-grey tiled carousel statements on social media overnight (AEST), supporting Macklemore and Palestine.

Macklemore himself posted a black carousel to Instagram on Tuesday (AEST), revealing his pro-Palestinian views led stadium owners to bar him from performing at their venues.

Sheeran, referred to as “apolitical” in Macklemore’s post but who has publicly supported Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine war, has responded to the US tour fallout and fan backlash with his own black carousel post on Instagram.

“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s [Messina Touring Group] decision; it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me,” Sheeran 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 controversy began at MetLife Stadium on September 4, when, during his support spot for Sheeran in New Jersey, Macklemore exclaimed “Free Palestine” while introducing his protest song Hind’s Hall alongside footage of the devastation in Gaza on a screen.

Written after the 2024 campus protests supporting Palestinians, the song is named for Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed after Israeli forces opened fire on her family’s car in Gaza City. (Macklemore also performed the song during his 2024 tour of Australia.)

Messina Touring Group said in a statement to Rolling Stone that venues had notified it that “they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the line-up, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans”.

The following night, he returned to the stage and said: “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. This message is for peace, love, for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality.”

New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium’s billionaire owner Robert Kraft was among the most vocal critics of Macklemore and led the push to remove him from Sheeran’s tour.

In Macklemore’s Tuesday post, he said Sheeran told him Kraft called him to say Macklemore was banned from performing in a stadium owned by his business group.

“Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners, and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues,” Macklemore said in the post.

Sheeran, in his response overnight, confirmed that after Macklemore’s shows, “venues on my upcoming tour dates communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting”.

“I was informed that this stance was based on how Macklemore conveyed part of his message during his performance, rather than on everything that was said,” Sheeran wrote.

“I spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge. One of those people was Robert Kraft. I was also involved in direct talks with promoters, along with activists on both sides, to try and find a mutual resolution for all, but the venue’s and promoter’s decision was final.”

Sheeran said he does not “use my professional platform for politics” regarding the war in Gaza.

“I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly.

“My audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum.

“I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace.”

Artist Finneas – brother and music producer of Billie Eilish – said on social media that he stood with Palestine and its people.

“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,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, traditional Irish quintet Beoga – who collaborated on Sheeran’s blockbuster album Divide, co-wrote the hit Galway Girl and toured numerous times with him – said it, too, decided to depart Sheeran’s tour following the “silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies”.

“We are Irish people who understand colonialism,” the post said, adding they had known Sheeran for more than 10 years and continue to be friends. “As founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement, we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be.”

Irish musician Aaron Rowe also withdrew from the tour, saying he had also been friends with Sheeran for many years, 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. I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal.”

A growing chorus of organisations and experts – including the United Nations – allege Israel’s wartime actions in Gaza amount to genocide. It’s an accusation Israel vehemently rejects.

Danish pop band Lukas Graham said it was also withdrawing from the tour.

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