Just hours after Ed Sheeran responded to the criticism surrounding rapper Macklemore’s removal from his tour due to pro-Palestinian statements made during performances, all remaining supporting acts have decided to exit Sheeran’s tour as well.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Sheeran expressed his dismay about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, labeling the suffering on both sides as a “human tragedy.” However, he justified his decision to remain neutral and not publicly declare a position.
After attributing Macklemore’s removal to the venues and promoters, supporting acts Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, Beoga, and Finneas announced their withdrawal from Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Palestinians, leaving the tour without any opening acts.
Sheeran revealed that venues contacted him following his shows at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium earlier this month, stating they would cancel his performances unless Macklemore, 43, was removed due to the way he expressed part of his message during his performance.
Footage from the shows, which have faced criticism from pro-Israel organizations, captured Macklemore urging the crowd to “Free Palestine” and voicing support for Palestinians in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. During his second performance on September 5, he spoke to Jewish audience members, asserting, “Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, is in no way a criticism of you.”
“My message is for peace; love for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality,” he added.
In his statement, Sheeran clarified, “Macklemore’s departure from the tour was the promoter’s choice, not mine. Macklemore’s contract was with the promoter, not with me.”
He mentioned that while he attempted to “build a bridge,” the venues remained firm in their stance.
Rowe, one of the co-openers for the remaining U.S. dates, remarked that Sheeran had been a friend who transformed his life. However, he referenced his country’s past involving “genocide, forced famine, and violent occupation” as a significant reason for his decision to withdraw from the tour.
“I need to remain true to myself and my ancestors who resisted colonization and fought for the freedom I currently enjoy in Ireland,” he said.
Beoga, an Irish band, echoed similar sentiments, announcing on Instagram that they would no longer provide support for Sheeran’s remaining U.S. tour dates.
“Performing in venues that silence advocates for a Free Palestine is simply not an option for us,” the band stated. “As founding members of the Irish Artists For Palestine movement, we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be.”
Danish artist Lukas Graham, who was set to open in the U.S. alongside Rowe, mentioned on Instagram that leaving the tour was a “difficult decision,” emphasizing the necessity to discuss war, civilian casualties, and the rights of children to grow up peacefully.
“Money doesn’t grant the right to dominate the conversation,” he stated.
Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother and collaborator, also announced on Instagram that he would be stepping back from upcoming tour dates in South America with Sheeran.
“Artists must not be silenced when they advocate for the oppressed,” he wrote.
Macklemore shared in a statement on Monday that even though Sheeran is “a friend,” it does not lessen his obligation to speak the truth about the events.
“He informed me that the phrases ‘Free Palestine’ and the image of the Palestinian flag were hurtful to many people he spoke with. I replied that if those words were deemed more offensive than the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinian children due to Israeli actions, then there was a fundamental disconnect between those individuals’ perspectives and mine. Yet, he couldn’t move past his public stance of ‘I don’t take sides.’
Hours after singer Ed Sheeran addressed the backlash over rapper Macklemore’s removal from his tour following pro-Palestinian comments onstage, the remaining supporting acts have also quit Sheeran’s tour. Sarah Galashan breaks down the latest.
During his performance, Macklemore also showcased images depicting the destruction in Gaza while singing his track, Hind’s Hall, which references Hind Rajab, a child killed by Israeli forces in Gaza.
Amnesty International and a United Nations commission have indicated that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide. Israel has denied these claims.
Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, was among those advocating for Macklemore’s removal, as confirmed by Sheeran.
Kraft, a strong supporter of Israel, stated in a message shared with CBC News on Monday that his stadium would “not provide a platform for hate speech,” asserting that Macklemore’s actions spread division through “selective information and neglecting the actions of Hamas.”
Following Macklemore’s exit, Sheeran faced immediate backlash online as critics condemned his apolitical position.
“I am not complicit,” Sheeran insisted in his statement. “I possess my personal views regarding this devastating conflict. Just because I opt not to speak publicly doesn’t imply that I lack them, nor does it indicate that I don’t care.”
Ed Sheeran performs in Brooklyn, New York, in September 2025. (Andy Kropa/The Associated Press)
Sheeran explained that he refrains from discussing global issues because his audience “includes young individuals, often children, from diverse backgrounds.”
However, children’s content creator Ms. Rachel highlighted on Tuesday the double standard in Sheeran participating in charitable efforts for Ukraine while deeming “Palestine too dangerous and political.”
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She pointed out, “Imagine being a Palestinian child and witnessing him perform for Ukraine while remaining silent when over 20,000 Palestinian children have been killed,” in a post on Instagram. Sheeran was among the artists who participated in the “Concert for Ukraine” benefit concert held in Birmingham, England, in 2022.
Every support act and Ed Sheeran’s backing band have dropped out of Sheeran’s world tour in support of rapper Macklemore. Macklemore was removed from the tour after making pro-Palestinian comments like ‘Free Palestine.’
The ongoing situation has shed light on the challenges faced by artists who advocate for Gaza, as they often encounter heightened scrutiny. Numerous actors have been dropped from projects or agencies for taking pro-Palestinian positions publicly.
It remains uncertain whether Sheeran’s tour will proceed with the remaining U.S. dates without any opening acts or if he will seek new ones. The U.S. leg concludes at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, a venue that hosted two Kanye West concerts earlier this summer despite calls for cancellation due to West’s documented history of virulent antisemitic statements, including his defense of Nazis and Adolf Hitler.
Macklemore encountered backlash in 2014 for performing in a costume perceived as antisemitic, a moment that singer Pink recalled last week while defending her decision to reshare a call for his removal from Sheeran’s tour.
At that time, Macklemore apologized, acknowledging that while it was not his intention, he understood that the outfit could be interpreted as a “Jewish caricature,” adding, “I respect all cultures and all people.”
“Antisemitism is real,” Macklemore asserted in his statement on Monday, adding that when pro-Palestinian statements “are conflated with hatred toward Jewish individuals, it does not safeguard Jewish people. It shields Israel from accountability.”