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Four artists have withdrawn from Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour after fellow performer Macklemore was removed from the remaining dates following outspoken comments in support of Palestine.
Finneas, Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish folk group Beoga all announced their departures on Tuesday, with each linking the decision to Macklemore’s removal and the treatment of his pro-Palestinian message.
The dispute began after Macklemore spoke about Palestine during Sheeran’s concert at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on September 4. Addressing the audience, the US rapper said he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know that they had not been forgotten before calling for a “Free Palestine”.
Macklemore has been a prominent public supporter of Palestinian rights, including through his 2024 protest song Hind’s Hall. His comments at the Sheeran concert were followed by a petition calling for him to be removed from the tour, while several venues objected to hosting him as part of the remaining shows.
The tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, said venues had indicated that concerts would not go ahead with Macklemore on the line-up. Sheeran subsequently confirmed that the rapper's removal was a decision made by the promoter rather than by him.
Support acts take a stand
The departures followed Sheeran’s public response to the controversy.
Finneas, who had been scheduled to perform on six South American dates in November, said artists should be able to speak on behalf of oppressed people and announced that he stood with Palestine.
Rowe, who was due to perform on the remaining North American dates, also withdrew. He referred to Ireland’s historical experience of famine, occupation and conflict while arguing that artists should not be prevented from speaking about the suffering of Palestinians.
Beoga, who have worked with Sheeran for more than a decade as his backing band, also announced their departure from the remaining US dates. The group said they continued to value their relationship with Sheeran but believed dialogue was necessary in addressing the plight of Palestinians.
Lukas Graham similarly withdrew, with frontman Lukas Forchhammer arguing that artists should be able to discuss civilians being killed and children affected by war, regardless of where they live.
The withdrawals leave Sheeran without the supporting acts originally scheduled for the upcoming dates of the tour.
Sheeran says he did not remove Macklemore
Sheeran said he was “appalled” by the Israel-Palestine conflict and the suffering caused by it, but maintained that he deliberately avoids turning his concerts into political platforms because his audiences include children and people from many different backgrounds.
He said he had spent days attempting to find a solution after venues objected to Macklemore's participation, but ultimately could not change the decision.
According to Sheeran, some venues had threatened to cancel concerts if Macklemore remained on the bill. He said the rapper's contract was with the promoter rather than with him personally.
Sheeran also said he respected Macklemore’s determination to speak publicly about what he believes, while arguing that people can pursue peace through different approaches.
Dispute over Palestine and accusations of antisemitism
The controversy has also brought competing arguments over how Macklemore’s political statements should be understood.
Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, was among those opposing Macklemore appearing at venues connected to the tour. Kraft said his decision was based on Macklemore’s recent actions and what he described as a history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that he believed had caused offence and hurt to the Jewish community.
At the same time, Kraft said his position was not intended to deny the suffering of Palestinians or the right of people to advocate for them. He said Palestinian pain and loss were real, while also arguing that advocacy for Palestinians should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or ignore Hamas.
Macklemore has rejected accusations that his support for Palestinians is directed against Jewish people. Following his removal, he said he did not regret using his platform to call attention to Gaza and Palestine.
The dispute has since grown from a disagreement over one artist’s place on a concert bill into a public debate over Palestine, artistic expression and whether musicians should be free to use major stages to speak about the war and Palestinian suffering.
For the artists who have now left Sheeran’s tour, their decision has been explicitly tied to that question and to solidarity with Macklemore’s decision to speak publicly for Palestine.
With information from Sky News.
