Ed Sheeran's tour of North and South America was plunged into chaos Tuesday when four of his supporting acts abruptly quit in solidarity with the rapper Macklemore, who was dropped for making pro-Palestinian comments onstage.
Hours after Sheeran posted on social media about Macklemore's ouster and attributed the decision to the tour's promoters, Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, the Danish band Lukas Graham, and Finneas posted on Instagram that they were leaving the tour.
Rowe and Lukas Graham would have been replacements for Macklemore on Sheeran's remaining U.S. dates and were scheduled to perform during Sheeran's tour stop at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium on Nov. 7.
ALSO READ: Macklemore pulled from Sheeran tour – including Tampa stop – after 'free Palestine' speech
Beoga had been performing several songs — including some the Irish folk band co-wrote — with Sheeran around the middle of each set. Finneas, who is Billie Eilish's brother and musical collaborator, was due to tour with Sheeran in South America later this year.
"Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed," Finneas said on Instagram. "I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people."
Pressure mounts on Sheeran
The moves by his fellow artists put enormous pressure on Sheeran, who has tried to avoid politics and taking a side in the Gaza conflict, arguing that his fans don't come to his shows to hear politics.
Rowe and Beoga each cited their country's history in their statements explaining their decision. "We are Irish people who understand colonialism. As founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement, we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be," Beoga said.
Rowe called Sheeran a friend and said the British singer-songwriter changed his life.
"But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation," he said, adding that he couldn't "stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up."
Meanwhile, Lukas Graham, the band that had hits with "Mama Said" and "7 Years," expressed gratitude to Sheeran and called it "a difficult decision."
"Money doesn't give you the right to own the conversation. Nobody's bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we're allowed to acknowledge," the band posted, seemingly referring to billionaire Robert Kraft's role in Macklemore's removal from the tour.
Emails seeking comment were sent to Sheeran and the tour's promoter, the Messina Touring Group.
The crisis started with Macklemore being dropped
Sheeran weighed in on Macklemore being dropped after the rapper made pro-Palestinian comments onstage during their tour, saying the decision was made by the promoters alone. The British singer also said he refused to be drawn into a public discussion about the war in Gaza.
"Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine," Sheeran wrote on Instagram on Tuesday. "I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living."
Sheeran's statement came a day after Macklemore said he was kicked off the Loop Tour after exclaiming "Free Palestine!" during the Sept. 5 date at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium while introducing his protest song "Hind's Hall."
"To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, it in no way is criticism of you," he said during the concert.
"Hind's Hall," written following the 2024 campus protests in support of Palestinians, is named for Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed after Israeli forces fired on her family’s car in Gaza City.
Macklemore performs the song while images from "Gaza and other political messaging were projected across the stadium screens," according to the Israeli-American Council.
Macklemore said on Instagram that several U.S. venues told the promoter they would prohibit him from performing as Sheeran's opening act, rallied by Kraft, owner of NFL's New England Patriots. His Kraft Group also owns Gillette Stadium, where the Patriots play.
In a statement Monday, Kraft said the decision to cancel Macklemore was a result of his recent comments "and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community."
Kraft's representatives didn't immediately respond to a Tuesday email seeking comment about the other musical artists' actions.
Tampa Sports Authority members not involved
The Tampa Sports Authority, which manages Raymond James Stadium, issued a statement to local media confirming Macklemore would not perform.
On Tuesday, several members told the Tampa Bay Times the agency had no role in Macklemore's removal. Board member Alan Clendenin, also chair of Tampa City Council, told the Times: "This had to do with certain owners that are not in the city of Tampa taking a stance."
In June, the sports authority dealt with similar questions related to concerts scheduled in June headlined by the rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. European venues had canceled Ye performances over his antisemitic and pro-Nazi statements, although he apologized earlier in the year.
The Ye shows drew bipartisan opposition for nearly a month from Sen. Rick Scott, the Florida Holocaust Museum, Holocaust survivors, Jewish leaders, the Florida National Organization for Women, and several other state politicians and civic leaders.
The sports authority said it did not condone Ye's remarks but was obligated to respect his free speech, although later it was learned there was a non-standard clause in Ye’s contract that said the agency could not cancel or interfere with the concerts “based upon artist identity, prior or past public statements, public perception, political viewpoints, or the anticipated or actual content of the performance.”
Sheeran says 'I am not complicit'
A growing chorus of organizations and experts say Israel's wartime actions in Gaza amount to genocide — an accusation Israel vehemently rejects.
Macklemore was scheduled to perform at eight of the 10 shows Sheeran has remaining on his stadium tour, which is scheduled to resume Saturday in Philadelphia. In addition to Foxborough and Tampa, remaining stadiums stops are Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta; Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis; Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte; and AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Two shows are also scheduled Oct. 29-30 at Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Broward County.
In his social media post, Sheeran said he "spoke with the venues at length all week to try to build a bridge," but that "the venue's and promoter's decision was final."
He wrote that he tries to use his music to "bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together" and that while he has personal views about "this devastating conflict," he chooses not to speak publicly because people who come to his shows "do not expect a political forum." He added: "I am not complicit."
"I respect Macklemore's strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes," Sheeran added. "However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace. I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed."
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