Ed Sheeran's tour across North and South America has been thrown into turmoil after four acts quit following the removal of rapper Macklemore, who publicly voiced support for Palestinians during a concert in New Jersey.
Macklemore was dropped from the tour after speaking from the stage at MetLife Stadium on September 5. The rapper shouted "free Palestine" while introducing his protest song "Hind's Hall," which references the destruction in Gaza.
During the same performance, the rapper, born Benjamin Haggerty, drew a distinction between criticizing Israel and criticizing Jewish people. He said that to all his Jewish brothers and sisters, criticizing Israel, criticizing apartheid and opposing genocide was in no way a criticism of them.
Sheeran responds
Sheeran addressed Macklemore's removal, saying the decision had been made by the tour's organizers and not by himself. He said he did not want his concerts to become a political forum over the war in Gaza.
In an Instagram post, the British singer said he would not disappoint fans who had made plans to attend the shows, nor abandon the tour's musicians and other bands who relied on him for their livelihoods. He said he would never let down fans who had made plans, nor abandon the touring crew, the supporting bands and the musicians who backed him and depended on him to make a living.
Four acts walk out
Sheeran's statement did not stop other artists on the tour from reacting. Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, Danish band Lukas Graham, and Finneas O'Connell all announced through Instagram that they were leaving the tour.
Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham had been due to replace Macklemore at the remaining US shows, while Beoga were set to perform alongside Sheeran onstage. Finneas, the brother and collaborator of Billie Eilish, had been due to join Sheeran's South American leg.
Finneas explained in his post, which gathered more than 1.4 million likes, that he was standing up for freedom of expression and for Palestinians. He said artists must not be silenced when they defend the oppressed. He added that he had decided to withdraw from the upcoming dates of his tour with Ed Sheeran, saying he stood with Palestine and its people.
Irish artists cite colonial history
Beoga and Aaron Rowe framed their decision around Ireland's own history with colonization and oppression. They described themselves as Irish people who understood what colonization meant, and said that as founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement, they remained committed to the fight for justice.
Aaron Rowe, who described Sheeran as a friend, said that despite their relationship he could not remain on the tour. He said that as Irish people, they knew very well what genocide, imposed famine and occupation meant, and that he could not stand by as billionaires used their power to silence those who raised their voices.
Lukas Graham target Robert Kraft
Lukas Graham called their decision to leave the tour a difficult one. In their post, the band pointed to the ability of wealthy figures to shape public debate, writing that money does not give anyone the right to define the conversation, and that no one's bank balance should decide who has the right to speak or whose pain is allowed to be recognized.
The band directed their criticism at Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots, whom they said had led the push to exclude Macklemore from the tour.
Kraft defends the decision
Kraft addressed the decision to cancel Macklemore's participation, linking it both to the rapper's recent remarks and to earlier statements he had made, which Kraft called offensive to the Jewish community. Kraft said the comments were part of a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that, in his view, were deeply offensive and harmful to the Jewish community.
Sheeran's tour is continuing in the wake of the departures, though it remains unclear who, if anyone, will replace the acts that have withdrawn.
