Four supporting acts, including every scheduled opener and Ed Sheeran's own touring band, withdrew from the singer's Loop Tour on Tuesday after rapper Macklemore was removed over pro-Palestinian comments he made on stage, the Associated Press reported.
Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Danish band Lukas Graham, Irish band Beoga and American singer-songwriter Finneas each announced their departures on Instagram. Their posts came hours after Sheeran said publicly that Macklemore's removal had been decided by the tour's promoter. Rowe and Lukas Graham were among the acts set to replace Macklemore on Sheeran's remaining U.S. dates. Beoga had been performing as Sheeran's touring band, and Finneas, the brother and musical collaborator of Billie Eilish, was scheduled to open on the South American leg beginning in November.
"Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision. It was not mine," Sheeran said in his statement.
Finneas, who has previously spoken out in support of Palestinians, wrote that "artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed" and said he stands with Palestine and its people.
Rowe called Sheeran a friend who had changed his life. He said that as an Irish person he could not stand by while billionaires used their power to silence people speaking out, and he accused Israel of genocide.
Beoga said it had been friends with Sheeran for more than a decade but could not perform in venues that silence advocates for Palestine. In a statement quoted by NBC News, the band wrote that "the real enemy is the zionist lobby." The band also criticized New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and said its members had been present for Macklemore's MetLife Stadium set and supported his message.
Lukas Graham thanked Sheeran and called its exit a difficult decision. The band said that money does not give anyone the right to control public conversation, an apparent reference to Kraft.
Macklemore was dropped from the tour on Monday after performing "Hind's Hall" and leading "Free Palestine" chants while opening for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5. The rapper said Sheeran told him Kraft had barred him from Gillette Stadium and rallied other stadium owners to threaten the tour. Kraft said Macklemore's conduct and what he called a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery crossed a line.
Sheeran's representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to TheWrap. The North American leg of the tour is scheduled to end November 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, followed by South American dates in November and December.
