Ed Sheeran has just lost all four supporting acts booked for upcoming dates of his Loop Tour in one fell swoop, with Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga withdrawing in solidarity with Macklemore, after the rapper was dropped from the tour over his anti-genocide comments.
The mass exodus marks the latest development in an escalating controversy that began after Macklemore declared “Free Palestine” live onstage while supporting Sheeran at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium earlier this month.
“The message is love” – Macklemore
While introducing his Palestine protest song Hind’s Hall, Macklemore also addressed Jewish members of the crowd, stressing that his criticism was directed towards the actions of the Israeli government and not the Jewish people.
“To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, it is in no way criticism of you,” he said.
Macklemore subsequently announced that he had been yeeted from his remaining eight scheduled dates on Sheeran’s US stadium tour.
According to the rapper, New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft rallied other stadium owners to oppose his involvement, resulting in an ultimatum that venues would refuse to host the concerts if Macklemore remained on the bill.
US tour promoter Messina Touring Group confirmed to Rolling Stone that venue owners had informed promoters they would not allow concerts featuring Macklemore to proceed, and that following discussions with stakeholders, the rapper would no longer perform on the remaining dates.
Kraft confirmed that Macklemore would not be permitted to perform at Gillette Stadium, saying the decision followed his recent comments and what Kraft described as a broader history of “antisemitic rhetoric and imagery”.
Macklemore has denied being antisemitic, arguing that criticism of the Israeli government and its actions should not be conflated with antisemitism.
The controversy comes amid mounting international condemnation of Israel’s conduct in Gaza. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded in 2025 that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a finding it reiterated this year while reporting on the targeting of Palestinian children. Israel has vehemently rejected accusations of genocide.
Ed Sheeran Defends Himself Following Macklemore’s Removal
Sheeran broke his silence on Tuesday, stressing that Macklemore’s removal was not his decision.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” Sheeran wrote in a statement shared online.
The British pop superstar said he had spent the week speaking with venues in an attempt to find a resolution, but ultimately the venues and promoter had made the final call.
Sheeran also defended his decision to continue the tour, saying he would not abandon fans who had made plans to attend, nor the touring crew, musicians and support acts who rely on the shows for employment.
Addressing his decision not to publicly take a position on Gaza, Sheeran said that while he holds personal views about what he controversially called the “devastating conflict” (rather than the “genocide”), he does not believe audiences attend his concerts expecting “a political forum”.
“I am not complicit,” he added defensively.
“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.”
Sheeran said he instead chooses to use his platform as “a place of safety and sanctuary” and to maintain diplomacy.
But within hours, the artists booked to share that platform began dropping like flies.
Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe & Beoga All Walk Out
Billie Eilish’s brother, collaborator and star in his own rite Finneas, who had been scheduled to join Sheeran for upcoming South American dates, announced he was withdrawing from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.
“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” the Grammy-winning artist and producer wrote.
“I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.”
Irish artist Aaron Rowe, who had been lined up to replace Macklemore on remaining US dates, also withdrew despite describing Sheeran as a friend who had changed his life.
“But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation,” Rowe wrote, adding that he could not “stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up”.
Irish folk band Beoga followed suit. The group had been appearing during Sheeran’s own set, performing several songs they co-wrote with him.
“We are Irish people who understand colonialism,” the band said. “As founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement, we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be.”
Danish act Lukas Graham, who had also been tapped to replace Macklemore, described their withdrawal as a “difficult decision”.
“Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation,” they said. “Nobody’s bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we’re allowed to acknowledge.”
The departures leave Sheeran without any of the four supporting acts booked across the affected upcoming legs of his tour.
Backlash Against Sheeran Grows
Sheeran’s response has meanwhile drawn heavy backlash from activists and public figures, including Greta Thunberg and children’s educator, Ms Rachel.
Thunberg shared a statement from the Humaniti Project arguing that artists withdrawing from the tour were choosing “to stand with their conscience”, while Ms Rachel criticised the idea that remaining silent represented a neutral position.
“If more than 20,000 white children were killed in another part of the world, everyone would be shouting about it at their concerts,” Ms Rachel wrote.
“Silence during a genocide is not neutral.”
She added: “Ed Sheeran had an opportunity [to] show that we won’t be bullied into punishing people for supporting Palestine.”
The controversy has also prompted questions about apparent inconsistencies in how stadiums respond to artists’ political speech.
As reported by HuffPost, critics have pointed to Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, having performed at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium earlier this year despite his extensively documented history of antisemitic remarks, including the release of a Nazi-praising song literally called ‘Heil Hitler’ that literally got him banned from Australia. The same venue was reportedly among those objecting to Macklemore appearing on Sheeran’s tour.
For now, Sheeran’s Loop Tour is scheduled to continue in Philadelphia this weekend – albeit with a dramatically different supporting cast to the one it had just days ago.
FYI, you can support Palestinians and help advocate to restore safe and unimpeded humanitarian access across Gaza by donating to Oxfam Australia here.
Further Reading
The Internet Reacts To Macklemore Performing Equality Anthem ‘Same Love’ At The NRL Grand Final
Kanye West Banned From Australia Indefinitely Over Nazi-Praising Track ‘Heil Hitler’
Ye (Kanye West) Issues Apology For Antisemitic Remarks In Full-Page Wall Street Journal Ad
