Ed Sheeran breaks silence on Macklemore tour removal, as all remaining openers drop out
All remaining opening acts for Ed Sheeran's tour have resigned following the removal of Macklemore over his on-stage support for Palestine. The artists cited a refusal to be silenced by corporate interests and a desire to stand in solidarity with the oppressed.
Why it matters
The mass withdrawal of supporting acts underscores the significant impact of political activism on tour logistics and the public image of major artists.
- 10.20pm . First published at 9.47pm
Share article All of Ed Sheeran ’s remaining Loop tour opening acts have quit following Macklemore’s removal for sharing messages of support for Palestine on-stage .
Aaron Rowe, Finneas and Lukas Graham and Sheeran’s touring band, Beoga, have all withdrawn within hours of Sheeran, 35, releasing a lengthy statement sharing his perspective.
Sheeran’s Loop tour is now without openers. Getty
Finneas, brother of Billie Eilish , said he stood with Palestine and its people.
“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” the 29-year-old wrote on social media.
The resignations come after Sheeran said Macklemore getting dropped was the “promoter’s decision”.
The Thinking Out Loud musician confirmed that Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots NFL team, was one of the main voices insisting on the rapper’s removal.
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