All support acts quit Ed Sheeran's US tour after Macklemore dropped
Every remaining support act on Ed Sheeran's US tour has announced their departure after rapper Macklemore was removed from the line-up over pro-Palestinian remarks made on stage.
All remaining support acts scheduled to perform on Ed Sheeran's US tour have announced they are quitting, following the removal of rapper Macklemore from the line-up. Among those stepping down is Finneas, brother of pop star Billie Eilish, who said artists must not be silenced for speaking up for the oppressed. Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe and Danish band Lukas Graham also confirmed their exit, as did Irish folk band Beoga, who performed alongside Sheeran on stage every night of the tour.
The wave of departures came after Sheeran addressed the controversy on social media, stating he was not responsible for Macklemore's removal and that the decision had been made by tour promoter Messina Touring Group. Sheeran said he was troubled by the Israel-Palestine conflict but explained he deliberately avoids using his platform for political statements, citing the large number of young people and children among his audience.
Origins of the dispute
The controversy began on 4 September, when Macklemore called for a free Palestine during a concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and performed his song "Hind's Hall" while footage of the situation in Gaza played on screen. The remarks drew criticism from Jewish groups, and pressure subsequently mounted on venues to have him removed from the tour.
On Monday, Macklemore announced he had been dropped from the line-up, saying the effort had been organised by billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts. Kraft confirmed the decision, saying he would not provide a platform for hate speech. Several artists who withdrew, including Lukas Graham, criticised Kraft's involvement, arguing that wealth should not determine whose suffering gets acknowledged.
