All remaining support acts on Ed Sheeran's US tour have left the lineup after Macklemore was removed by promoters for making pro-Palestinian remarks during shows. The departures include Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Beoga. Sheeran stated the decision was the promoter's and not his own.
Why did the support acts leave Ed Sheeran's tour?
Finneas, brother of Billie Eilish, stated that artists must not be silenced when speaking up for the oppressed. Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish folk group Beoga also announced their exits within hours of the news. Beoga said performing in venues that silence advocates for a free Palestine was not an option. The moves followed Macklemore's removal after he called for a free Palestine and displayed footage from Gaza at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 4 September. The Israeli American Council launched a petition against his continued participation, and some venues applied pressure on the promoter. Lukas Graham wrote that money does not give the right to own the conversation and that nobody's bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering is acknowledged. Rowe noted he did not take the decision lightly and that Ed had been a friend who changed his life. Beoga described playing to the crowds as the stuff of dreams but said venues that silence anyone advocating for a Free Palestine left them no choice. The artists emphasised that the involvement of venue owners in organising pressure influenced their choices to step away rather than continue under those conditions. They each highlighted that Robert Kraft's reported role in coordinating objections across venues played a direct part in prompting the coordinated exits, framing the withdrawals as a stand against external control over what artists can express on stage.
What did Ed Sheeran say about the promoter decision?
Sheeran posted on Instagram that the removal was the promoter's choice and not his. He said he had spoken with venues to build a bridge but the decision stood. Sheeran described the suffering on both sides as a human tragedy and explained his choice not to use his platform for politics, citing a young audience that expects a place of safety rather than debate. He noted that Macklemore had been free to choose his own setlist, as with other support acts. Sheeran added that multiple approaches exist to advocating for peace and that his method focuses on keeping conversations open. He wrote that he is not complicit, has personal views on the conflict, and supports causes in his own personal way without using his professional platform for politics because his audience includes young people and children of all backgrounds who do not expect a political forum. Sheeran said he respects Macklemore's strength of purpose but believes there is room for different approaches to peace. He stressed he would never let down fans who made plans or abandon crew and musicians relying on the tour for work. He underlined that the promoter Messina Touring Group had acted after receiving venue refusals, and he had spent the preceding week in direct talks trying to find a way for the shows to proceed without disruption to the wider production.
How did Macklemore respond to being dropped?
Macklemore posted that he empathised with Sheeran's position but criticised the lack of a public stance. He wrote that there is no neutral position between oppressor and oppressed and that taking a side can cost brand deals and access. He said the tour had been the most successful of his career if it returned attention to Palestine. Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, confirmed he barred Macklemore from his venue and accused the rapper of a history of antisemitic rhetoric. The promoter told Rolling Stone that venues refusing Macklemore risked cancelling the entire tour. Macklemore also addressed his Jewish brothers and sisters directly the night after his first performance, stating that criticism of Israel, apartheid or genocide is not criticism of them and that people in Gaza and the West Bank had not been forgotten. He performed Hind's Hall while footage of devastation in Gaza played on screen. He noted that although he completed only two shows, turning conversation back to Palestine made it his most successful tour. He added that the financial and professional costs he had already faced did not change his view that silence between oppressor and oppressed is not a viable stance.
What numbers and timeline are attached to the events?
Macklemore performed on 4 September and returned the next night to address Jewish audience members directly. He was dropped from the lineup on the following Monday. The tour promoter is Messina Touring Group. Sheeran had previously allowed all support acts freedom over their setlists. According to the Gaza health ministry, more than 73,780 people have been killed during Israel's military campaign that began after the 7 October 2023 attack in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. The UN considers the ministry's figures reliable. Macklemore said he wanted people in Gaza and the West Bank to know they had not been forgotten, while Israel rejects allegations of genocide and states its operations are self-defence conducted in accordance with international law. The campaign in Gaza followed the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. The sequence shows the first performance triggered immediate online criticism and petitions, the second night brought Macklemore's direct address to Jewish audience members, and the Monday announcement confirmed the promoter had removed him after venue pressure mounted.
Frequently asked questions
Did Ed Sheeran decide to remove Macklemore?
No. Sheeran stated on Instagram that the decision belonged to the promoter, Messina Touring Group, after venues applied pressure.
Which artists left the tour?
Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Beoga all announced their departures after Macklemore was dropped.
What did Macklemore say on stage?
He called for a free Palestine and performed his song Hind's Hall while footage of Gaza was shown on screen at MetLife Stadium.
Why did venues object?
Some venues faced petitions and criticism from groups including the Israeli American Council after Macklemore's comments.
Did Sheeran allow political content?
Sheeran said Macklemore had been free to choose his setlist, consistent with the policy for all support acts.
Key takeaways
Every remaining support act left after Macklemore's removal by the promoter. Sheeran attributed the decision to venues and the promoter. Macklemore said the tour succeeded in refocusing attention on Gaza. The Gaza health ministry reports more than 73,780 deaths since October 2023. Sheeran chose not to engage publicly in political debate during the tour.
Outlook for the tour
The departures leave the remaining US dates without the previously announced support lineup. Sheeran has continued to emphasise that his approach prioritises maintaining open conversations over public political statements.
