Ed Sheeran Tour Loses Four Support Acts After Macklemore Exit Over Pro-Palestinian Remarks Sparks Backlash From Opening Performers

NEW YORK, NY — Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour was thrown into fresh turmoil Tuesday after four supporting acts said they were quitting the run in response to Macklemore being removed as an opening act over his pro-Palestinian comments.

The departures came only hours after Sheeran posted that the decision to cut Macklemore was made by promoters, not by him. Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, the Danish band Lukas Graham and Finneas all said on Instagram they would leave the tour.

Rowe had been booked as one of Macklemore’s replacements for the remaining U.S. dates. Beoga was serving as Sheeran’s touring band, while Finneas was due to join the South America leg later this year.

How Macklemore’s removal set off the latest break with Sheeran’s tour

The conflict centers on Macklemore’s removal after he shouted “Free Palestine!” during a Sept. 5 show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey while introducing “Hind’s Hall,” his protest song. He later said the audience should understand that criticism of Israel and opposition to apartheid or genocide was not criticism of Jewish people.

Sheeran addressed the episode on Instagram and said the promoters made the call. He wrote that he would not abandon fans who had already made plans, and he said he did not want to walk away from the touring crew and musicians who depend on the show for work.

In his latest statement, Sheeran also said he had spoken with venues throughout the week in an effort to “build a bridge,” but that the final decision rested with the venues and promoter.

Why Rowe and Beoga said they could not stay on the bill

Rowe and Beoga both rooted their decision in Irish history. Beoga said the group was made up of Irish people who understand colonialism and described itself as part of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement.

Rowe called Sheeran a friend and said the singer had changed his life, but he said he could not stay silent in the face of what he described as genocide, forced famine and violent occupation. He argued that wealthy backers should not be able to use their influence to silence people who speak out.

The statements made their withdrawal sound less like a scheduling issue than a moral break. Both acts framed their exit around solidarity with Palestinians and a refusal to separate music from the politics surrounding the tour.

Finneas and Lukas Graham also leave, each citing principle

Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother and longtime musical collaborator, said artists should not be silenced when they speak on behalf of oppressed people. He has previously spoken publicly in support of Palestinians.

Lukas Graham struck a similar tone while thanking Sheeran and calling the choice difficult. The band said money should not determine who gets to speak or which suffering can be acknowledged.

Its post appeared to allude to billionaire Robert Kraft, whose role became part of the debate over Macklemore’s removal. Lukas Graham’s message suggested that the dispute had become bigger than a single performance slot and had turned into a question about power, speech and who gets heard on a major tour.

Robert Kraft, venues and the promoter become part of the dispute

Macklemore said Monday on Instagram that several U.S. venues told the promoter they would not allow him to perform as Sheeran’s opening act. He said the push came after Kraft became involved. Kraft owns the NFL’s New England Patriots and also owns Gillette Stadium, where the team plays.

In a statement Monday, Kraft said the decision to cancel Macklemore was tied to the rapper’s recent comments and what he described as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery. He said that material had been hurtful and offensive to the Jewish community.

Emails seeking comment were sent to Sheeran and the Messina Touring Group, the tour’s promoter. Neither had immediately responded on Tuesday, and Macklemore’s publicist also did not immediately reply.

Sheeran says he wants the stadium show to stay focused on music

Sheeran used his statement to draw a line between his personal views on the war in Gaza and what he believes belongs at a concert. He said he uses music to bring people from different backgrounds together and that fans do not come expecting a political forum.

He added that he is not complicit and said he prefers to use his platform as a place of safety and sanctuary. In his view, keeping conversations open is better than closing them off.

At the same time, he said he respected Macklemore’s willingness to stand up for what he believes in. Sheeran described that as one of several approaches toward the same goal of peace, even as the tour’s lineup kept shifting around the dispute.

What remains on the tour as the next dates approach

Macklemore had been scheduled to play eight of the 10 remaining shows on Sheeran’s stadium tour. The run is set to resume Saturday in Philadelphia, followed by stops at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium.

With four supporting acts now out, the tour’s lineup has become unstable just as the North American dates are approaching. Rowe, Beoga, Lukas Graham and Finneas all announced their exits within hours, turning the original replacement plan into another public rupture.

The situation also places the focus back on the wider argument around Gaza. Sheeran said he would not make the concert into a political forum, while Macklemore has continued to cast his removal as the result of speaking out. For fans, the tour now carries both the usual stadium-scale anticipation and an unmistakable layer of controversy.

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