On Tuesday, artist Finneas and three other supporting acts announced they were quitting Ed Sheeran’s “Loop Tour” after rapper Macklemore was dropped from the lineup for expressing pro-Palestinian views during a performance.
The decision to remove Macklemore, who had shouted “Free Palestine!” at Sheeran’s New Jersey show earlier this month, was made by the tour’s promoter, not Sheeran himself, according to statements.
Sheeran addressed the controversy on Instagram, clarifying that the promoter, Messina Touring Group, ended Macklemore’s contract after several venues threatened to cancel Sheeran’s shows if Macklemore remained on the bill.
Sheeran said he engaged in lengthy discussions with venue managers, including Robert Kraft—owner of Boston’s Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots—but was ultimately unable to change the outcome.
Following Macklemore’s removal, Finneas—best known for his work with his sister Billie Eilish—Irish artists Aaron Rowe and Beoga, and Danish artist Lukas Graham all announced their departure from the tour. Finneas, who has previously advocated for Palestinian rights, wrote, “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. I stand with Palestine and its people.”
Beoga, Sheeran’s longtime touring band, cited the “silencing of Macklemore by Zionist lobbies” as their reason for leaving. “We are a traditional Irish band who never saw ourselves playing in stadiums of that size, and that opportunity is not lost on us,” they wrote, adding that although they remain friends with Sheeran, “as Irish people who understand colonialism,” they could not stay. As founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement, Beoga reaffirmed their commitment to activism.
Aaron Rowe echoed these sentiments, referencing Ireland’s own history of genocide, famine, and occupation. “Ed is a friend who has changed my life,” he wrote, “but I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence those who speak up against Israeli genocide.”
In his statement, Sheeran explained his reluctance to comment publicly on political issues, including the war in Gaza: “I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t care. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum. I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose.”
Macklemore also clarified that Sheeran and his team were not responsible for his removal from the tour. He alleged that Robert Kraft personally intervened, contacting Sheeran to say Macklemore would not be allowed to perform, and encouraged other venues to do the same. In response, Kraft stated that Gillette Stadium would “not provide a platform for hate speech.”
Macklemore, known for hits like “Thrift Shop” and “Can’t Hold Us,” has long been an outspoken supporter of Palestinians. Earlier in 2024, he released “Hind’s Hall,” a tribute to Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl whose death drew international condemnation.
