Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour was plunged into crisis on Tuesday after four supporting acts pulled out following the removal of Macklemore from the concert series.
Finneas, Danish pop group Lukas Graham, Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, and traditional Irish folk band Beoga, who serve as Mr Sheeran’s house band during his live set, all announced their departures within hours of one another.
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The mass walkout came one day after Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, revealed he had been forced off the tour following a pressure campaign spearheaded by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
Mr Kraft accused the rapper of a “history of antisemitic rhetoric”. He was forced to apologise in 2014 for a costume he wore on stage critics blasted as a “Jewish caricature”.
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The Seattle rapper had more recently sparked fury over his pro-Palestine, anti-Israel stance and had been panned for performing his protest track “Hind’s Hall” during two shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month.
During his MetLife Stadium appearances, Macklemore voiced support for Gaza and the West Bank, screamed “free Palestine,” displayed images of the war in the Middle East, and performed his protest song – inspired by pro-Palestine demonstrators at Columbia University.
According to Macklemore, Mr Kraft contacted Mr Sheeran directly and told him that the rapper would be barred from appearing at Gillette Stadium, which Kraft owns.
“Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues,” Macklemore wrote.
Multiple venues then told Mr Sheeran that concerts would not go ahead with Macklemore on the bill.
Tour promoter Messina Touring Group confirmed on Monday that the rapper had been dropped, citing the threat of cancellations that would “impact hundreds of thousands of fans”.
Finneas, best known as the songwriting partner and brother of Billie Eilish, confirmed he would no longer open for Mr Sheeran on the South American leg of the Loop Tour, which had been due to launch in November.
“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” he wrote on Instagram.
“I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.”
The decision was consistent with Finneas’s prior campaigning on the issue.
He and his sister had previously helped promote a celebrity benefit concert called “Together for Palestine,” which raised funds for relief efforts during the Israel-Hamas war.
His announcement arrived roughly an hour after Aaron Rowe had published his own withdrawal statement, accelerating what became a complete collapse of the tour’s support lineup within a single afternoon.
Mr Rowe, the Irish singer-songwriter who had been opening on the US leg of the tour, accused Israel of a “genocide” and compared Ireland to Palestine.
“I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children,” he raged on Instagram.
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Though he thanked Mr Sheeran for his friendship and the opportunities the tour had afforded him, Mr Rowe claimed his choice was ultimately inescapable.
“As Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation,” he wrote.
“I need to be true to myself and my ancestors who resisted colonisation, and fought for a freedom that I enjoy today in Ireland.”
Lukas Graham, the Danish pop act that had been supporting Mr Sheeran on the US dates, also confirmed their withdrawal from the remaining shows.
The band wrote on Instagram: “We should be able to speak about war, about civilians being killed, about children who deserve to grow up.”
“Wherever they live. Whatever flag flies over them.”
They continued: “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 statement also conveyed affection for Mr Sheeran personally.
“I love Ed, and I’m grateful for everything we’ve shared,” Graham added, calling the departure “a difficult decision, but it’s one I need to stand by.”
Beoga, the traditional Irish folk band who perform alongside Mr Sheeran during his live set, said they were leaving “following the silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies.”
The group, who described themselves as founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement, noted they had witnessed Macklemore’s MetLife Stadium performance firsthand.
“We fully supported his message, so did most of the audience in MetLife Stadium, which terrifies the lobbies,” the band wrote.
“Go back and read the transcript if you’re in doubt.
“To play in venues that silence anyone advocating for a Free Palestine is simply not an option for us,” they wrote.
Their Instagram post was captioned “Saoirse don Phailistín”, which is Irish for “Freedom for Palestine.”
Mr Sheeran broke his silence on Tuesday morning, insisting the decision to remove Macklemore had not been his.
He said he had spent the week attempting to find a resolution after venues began threatening to pull his shows.
“I was informed that this stance was based on how Macklemore conveyed part of his message during his performance, rather than everything that was said,” the singer wrote, adding that he had spoken with Mr Kraft among others.
Mr Sheeran attributed the final call to Messina Touring Group, which held the contract with Macklemore.
He expressed respect for the rapper’s “strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes.”
Mr Kraft, meanwhile, confirmed he had barred Macklemore from Gillette Stadium, citing the rapper’s “recent actions” and what he described as “a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric.”
He did not, however, address Macklemore’s claim that he had coordinated with other stadium owners to force the rapper’s removal.
GB News has approached Ed Sheeran, Macklemore and Robert Kraft for comment.
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