All remaining support acts on Ed Sheeran's US tour have withdrawn following the removal of rapper Macklemore from the lineup due to his pro-Palestinian remarks made during performances. Among those who left are Finneas, brother of Billie Eilish, who stated, "Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed." Other departing acts include Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, Danish band Lukas Graham, and Irish folk band Beoga.
The announcements came shortly after Sheeran stated he would not engage in a public debate regarding Gaza and clarified that he was not responsible for Macklemore's removal. On Instagram, Sheeran said, "Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine. 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."
Sheeran is scheduled to perform at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday. His Loop tour website has not been updated, and Graham and Rowe remain listed as special guests.
Earlier this month, Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, called for a "free Palestine" and displayed images of destruction in Gaza during two concerts in New Jersey. His comments faced backlash from Jewish groups, leading some venues to pressure tour promoters to remove him from the tour.
In his statement, Sheeran mentioned he had been in discussions with the venues to find a resolution, but ultimately, the promoters, Messina Touring Group, decided to remove Macklemore. Sheeran expressed his views on the Israel-Palestine conflict, stating, "I am appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine" and emphasized the need for peace.
Macklemore's removal followed his comments at a concert on September 4, where he expressed support for Palestine and performed a song dedicated to pro-Palestinian protesters. His remarks received mixed reactions from the audience and drew criticism online.
Following the controversy, Macklemore announced he had been dropped from the tour, attributing the decision to Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, who stated he would not provide a platform for what he termed "hate speech."
Tour promoter Messina Touring Group indicated that venues had communicated they would not allow Macklemore to perform, which could have led to the cancellation of the tour. Many artists who withdrew cited Kraft's influence in their decisions.
Macklemore expressed understanding for Sheeran's position but criticized him for not taking a public stance on the issue. He stated that while he had lost opportunities due to his views, he believed it was important to bring attention to the situation in Palestine.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy commented that artists have the right to express political views but acknowledged the difficult position Sheeran faced. Elan Carr, chief executive of the Israeli-American Council, condemned Macklemore's remarks as inappropriate for a concert setting.
The situation has sparked debate, with differing opinions on whether Sheeran should have canceled the tour or found alternative solutions to support both his fans and the artists involved.