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Ed Sheeran's ongoing US tour has been thrown into further controversy after all of his remaining support acts announced they were pulling out, shortly after Macklemore was removed from the lineup following his outspoken pro-Palestinian comments.
Finneas, Lukas Graham, Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe and Irish folk band Beoga, who perform with Sheeran as his live backing band, all announced their departures on Tuesday, September 15.
Their decisions came a day after Macklemore revealed that he had been dropped from the Loop Tour following his performances in New Jersey, where he called for a "Free Palestine" and showed footage of destruction in Gaza.
Finneas, the brother of Billie Eilish, said artists should be allowed to speak about issues they believe in. "Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed," he wrote on Instagram, announcing his decision to leave the tour.
Rowe, meanwhile, said walking away was difficult because of his relationship with Sheeran. "I didn't take the decision lightly," he wrote, describing Sheeran as "a friend to me" who had "changed my life." However, he said he could not continue performing at venues where artists speaking about Palestine were being silenced.
"Free Palestine," Rowe concluded.
Beoga also said the decision was not made lightly, pointing to its long relationship with Sheeran. The band said that while performing in stadiums of that size was "the stuff of dreams," it could not play at venues that silence people advocating for a free Palestine.
Lukas Graham similarly announced his withdrawal, arguing that money should not determine who gets to speak about suffering. "Money doesn't give you the right to own the conversation," he wrote. "Nobody's bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we're allowed to acknowledge."
The departures followed Sheeran's statement insisting that Macklemore's removal was not his decision. Sheeran said venues had warned that they would pull his shows if Macklemore remained on the bill.
"Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine," Sheeran wrote.
The singer said he was "appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine" and described the suffering on both sides as "a human tragedy." He also explained why he generally avoids using his professional platform for political issues, saying his concerts attract young people and audiences from different backgrounds.
"There is room for multiple approaches to the same end: Peace," Sheeran wrote.
The controversy began on September 4 when Macklemore performed at Sheeran's concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. He told the crowd that one reason he wanted to join the tour was to stand in stadiums and say "Free Palestine."
His remarks drew criticism from Jewish groups, while other artists publicly supported his right to speak.
Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium, confirmed that Macklemore would not perform at the Massachusetts venue. Kraft said the stadium would not "provide a platform for hate speech" and cited what he described as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.
Despite the controversy, Sheeran's Loop Tour is continuing, with its final scheduled show set for November 7 in Tampa, Florida.
