Ed Sheeran US Loop Tour: All support acts withdraw after Macklemore dropped
Multiple artists have withdrawn from Ed Sheeran's US tour in solidarity with rapper Macklemore, who was removed from the lineup following his pro-Palestinian comments. Sheeran clarified that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by venue promoters rather than himself.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between artistic expression, political activism, and corporate control in the entertainment industry.
The fallout over Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s United States Loop Tour has escalated, with all remaining support acts quitting in solidarity with the rapper.
Finneas, Lukas Graham, Beoga and Irish singer Aaron Rowe said they are quitting the tour after Macklemore was dropped following pro-Palestinian comments during a MetLife Stadium performance in New Jersey earlier this month.
Hours before the artists dropped out, Sheeran said tour venues had indicated they would pull shows if Macklemore remained.
Sheeran said he was “appalled” by the conflict in Israel and Palestine and had spent days trying to find a compromise, but venues and promoters made the final decision to remove Macklemore.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” Sheeran wrote.
Finneas, who was due to join Sheeran for upcoming tour dates, argued artists “must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed”.
Also covering this story
21 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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