Several supporting acts have withdrawn from Ed Sheeran’s ongoing Loop tour in solidarity with rapper Macklemore, whose removal from the tour sparked controversy over his outspoken comments supporting Palestinians in the conflict in Gaza. The developments emerged over the past week, with the decisions announced mostly on social media platforms.
The dispute began following Macklemore’s performances on September 4 and 5 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the Seattle-based rapper included his protest song “Hinds Hall.” The song contains lyrics accusing Israel of “genocide” in relation to the war that erupted after the Hamas-led attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. Macklemore also addressed the crowd directly, urging support for Palestinians by saying, “Free Palestine.”
The remarks quickly drew criticism from various groups, including the Anti-Defamation League and the Israeli-American Council, which organized petitions calling for Macklemore’s removal from the tour. Several stadium owners, notably Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, publicly opposed Macklemore’s participation. Kraft cited concerns about Macklemore’s past use of what was perceived as antisemitic imagery and rhetoric. Macklemore had previously apologized in 2014 for wearing a controversial stage costume deemed offensive by parts of the Jewish community.
Following these pressures, Macklemore was removed from the tour line-up, a decision described by Sheeran as being made by the tour promoters and venue owners, not by himself. Sheeran also stated he was “appalled by the conflict” and had attempted to mediate a solution but ultimately respected the final decision imposed by others.
After Macklemore’s removal was confirmed, all four of Sheeran’s remaining support acts—Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and the traditional Irish band Beoga—announced their withdrawal from the tour. Finneas, who was scheduled for six South American dates, emphasized on social media that “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed” and expressed solidarity with Palestine and its people. Aaron Rowe, a singer from Dublin who had been opening in North America, highlighted his personal connection to a history of colonization and oppression, stating he could not continue without respecting the voices against injustice toward Palestinians.
Lukas Graham’s lead singer Lukas Forchhammer wrote that monetary influence should not dictate who gets to address suffering or conflict, reinforcing the call for free speech. Beoga pointed to the "silencing of Macklemore by Zionist lobbies" as their reason for leaving the tour while expressing support for dialogue to advance the Palestinian cause.
Other artists associated with the tour, such as Irish folk band Biird and singer Myles Smith, voiced backing for Macklemore and lamented the broader implications of the controversy on open discussion about the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Macklemore has maintained that his removal was due to pressure from venues that objected to his political statements. Kraft, while defending the ban, also expressed willingness to meet with Macklemore, stating a shared goal of ending hate and achieving peace.
The next scheduled date on Sheeran’s tour is set for Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, with the tour continuing amid ongoing discussion and criticism over the political and artistic tensions raised by the removals and withdrawals.