All supporting artists and bands on Ed Sheeran's concert tour have announced their withdrawal after rapper Macklemore was removed from the lineup for expressing support for Palestine. Sheeran clarified he was not responsible for the removal and revealed that while he feels shocked by the Israel-Palestine conflict, he chose not to use his professional platform to make political statements because his audience includes youth and children from diverse backgrounds.
All remaining artists who served as opening acts on Ed Sheeran's U.S. tour announced their withdrawal after rapper Macklemore was removed from the lineup due to his public support for Palestinians and criticism of the war in the Gaza Strip during his performances.
One of the artists who withdrew was Finneas, Billie Eilish's older brother, who stated in a release that artists should not be silenced when speaking up for the oppressed. Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe and Danish band Lukas Graham also announced their withdrawal. Additionally, Irish folk band Beoga, which performed alongside Sheeran nightly, also pulled out of the tour.
The withdrawal announcements came just hours after Sheeran issued a statement that he would not participate in public debates about the Gaza Strip and reaffirmed he was not the one who decided to remove Macklemore from the tour.
Ed Sheeran stated on Instagram that Macklemore's removal was the event organizers' decision, not his. He emphasized he did not want to disappoint fans planning to attend shows and did not want to abandon the tour crew, opening artists, and other musicians who rely on this work for their livelihood.
Earlier in September, Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, performed twice at Sheeran's concerts in New Jersey, calling to "free Palestine" while displaying images of damage in the Gaza Strip on large screens during his song "Hind's Hall," which supports protests by pro-Palestinian groups at Columbia University and criticizes Israeli military operations in Gaza.
The performance received cheers from some attendees but was quickly criticized online. The Israeli-American Council filed a petition demanding Macklemore's removal from the tour, while the group StopAntisemitism accused him of bringing political content to audiences without prior notice.
The following night, Macklemore returned to the stage and addressed Jewish audience members directly, stating that criticism of the Israeli government, opposition to segregation, and opposition to genocide do not equate to criticism of Jewish people. He expressed a desire to let those in Gaza and the West Bank know they have not been forgotten.
Israel denied allegations of genocide, stating that its military operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank are acts of self-defense conducted in accordance with international law.
Israel launched military operations in Gaza following attacks by Hamas and allied militant groups on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. Meanwhile, the Gaza Health Ministry, under Hamas administration, reported over 73,780 Palestinian deaths from Israeli military actions, figures considered credible by the United Nations.
After days of ongoing criticism, Macklemore announced on 14 September that he had been removed from the tour lineup, accusing Robert Kraft, billionaire owner of Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, of pushing for his removal.
Kraft, who had previously hired Ed Sheeran to perform at his wedding, confirmed he was the one who decided not to allow Macklemore to perform at his stadium, stating he would not provide a platform for "hate speech" and accused Macklemore of having a history of anti-Jewish rhetoric.
Kraft also said he agreed with Macklemore that there has been too much death and suffering, but presenting only partial information without mentioning Hamas's actions is misleading and could increase division and hatred.
Messina Touring Group, the tour organizer, told Rolling Stone magazine that several concert venues informed them they would not allow Macklemore to perform, potentially leading to tour cancellations and affecting hundreds of thousands of fans.
Several artists who withdrew cited Kraft's role as influencing their decision. Lukas Graham stated, "Money does not give anyone the right to own the conversation," adding that financial status should not determine who has the right to speak or whose suffering is recognized.
Aaron Rowe said he did not decide to withdraw lightly and affirmed that Sheeran is a friend who has profoundly impacted his life. Beoga stated that performing in front of large audiences every night is a musician's dream, but they cannot accept performing at venues that exclude those calling for a free Palestine.
Sheeran said he "feels shocked by the Israel-Palestine conflict" and views the suffering and pain of people on both sides as a human tragedy. He chose not to use his professional platform to make political statements because his audience includes youth and children from diverse backgrounds. Sheeran confirmed that all artists on the tour, including Macklemore, have the right to choose their own songs.
Macklemore acknowledged understanding Sheeran's difficult position but observed that Sheeran chose not to take a stand on the issue. He noted that political statements could result in loss of income, brand support, festival bookings, relationships, and other work opportunities.
Macklemore said that although he only performed twice on the tour, if his words could bring society's attention back to Palestine, he would consider that the most successful tour of his career.
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