Four Supporting Acts Withdraw From Ed Sheeran Tour After Macklemore’s Exit

Ed Sheeran’s North and South American tour has been thrown into uncertainty after four supporting acts announced that they were leaving the tour following the removal of rapper Macklemore over his pro-Palestinian comments.

The artists who have withdrawn are Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Irish folk group Beoga. Their departures came after Macklemore was removed from the remaining dates of Sheeran’s Loop Tour following his performances in New Jersey, where he voiced support for Palestinians and called for a “Free Palestine.”

Macklemore had performed at Sheeran’s shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month. During his set, he displayed footage related to the Gaza conflict and performed “Hind’s Hall,” his protest song addressing the war. He also made statements supporting Palestinians.

According to reports, several venues hosting upcoming Sheeran concerts informed the tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, that they would not permit Macklemore to perform. Macklemore subsequently said the decision was connected to his political comments.

The situation escalated after Sheeran addressed Macklemore’s departure in a statement on social media.

Sheeran said the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour promoter and venues rather than by him, explaining that some venues had threatened to withdraw their shows if the rapper remained on the bill. He said he had spent the week speaking with venues, promoters and activists in an effort to find a resolution.

Sheeran also reiterated his decision to keep his concerts politically neutral, saying his audiences include young people and children from different backgrounds. He said he wanted his shows to remain spaces focused on unity and inclusion rather than political debate.

However, his explanation did not prevent other performers from walking away.

Finneas, who was scheduled to perform during the South American leg, announced his departure and said artists should be able to speak about oppression. Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham also said they would no longer participate, while Beoga, which had been performing with Sheeran during his shows, also withdrew.

The dispute has also drawn criticism from opposing sides. Macklemore has argued that his support for Palestinians should not prevent him from performing, while Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium and a prominent supporter of Jewish causes, said Macklemore’s recent remarks and what Kraft described as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery influenced the decision to prevent him from performing at the venue.

The controversy has therefore expanded beyond the tour itself into a wider debate over artistic freedom, political expression, venue control and the role of musicians in discussions surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict.

For now, Sheeran’s tour remains scheduled, but the withdrawal of all four supporting acts has significantly altered the planned line-up for upcoming performances.