Ed Sheeran breaks silence on Macklemore tour removal, as all remaining openers drop out

All of Ed Sheeran’s remaining Loop tour opening acts have quit following Macklemore’s removal for sharing messages of support for Palestine on-stage.

Aaron Rowe, Finneas and Lukas Graham and Sheeran’s touring band, Beoga, have all withdrawn within hours of Sheeran, 35, releasing a lengthy statement sharing his perspective.

Finneas, brother of Billie Eilish, said he stood with Palestine and its people.

“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” the 29-year-old wrote on social media.

The resignations come after Sheeran said Macklemore getting dropped was the “promoter’s decision”.

The Thinking Out Loud musician confirmed that Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots NFL team, was one of the main voices insisting on the rapper’s removal.

Irish musician Aaron Rowe was the first of the remaining openers to pull out.

Read more

Macklemore removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour after on-stage support for Palestine

He said while Sheeran had been a long-time friend of his, he “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”.

“I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal. I need to be true to myself and my ancestors who resisted colonisation, and fought for a freedom that I enjoy today in Ireland,” Rowe added.

In their own statement, Danish pop band Lukas Graham said they could not carry on with the tour as things stand.

“Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation. Nobody’s bank balance should decide who gets the right to speak or which suffering we’re allowed to acknowledge,” they said.

Irish folk band Beoga had been Sheeran’s touring band, but they too have dropped out “following the silencing of Macklemore by Zionist lobbies”.

“We are Irish people who understand colonialism,” they said. “As founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be.”

Ed Sheeran’s statement

Hours before his openers announced their departures, Sheeran posted his own statement to social media.

Sheeran confirmed that he’d had conversations with venues, including Gillette Stadium owner Kraft, “to try and build a bridge”, but wasn’t successful.

“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me,” he said.

Sheeran said he would not be drawn into public debate about Israel and Palestine.

“I have always used my platform and music to bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together and this won’t ever change,” he said, adding that his shows were about “unity” and “escapism”.

“I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict,” he continued.

“Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care. Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own, personal way.”

Sheeran believes fans at his shows “do not expect a political forum”.

“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,” he said.

Macklemore’s removal from the tour

Macklemore performed as an opener at Sheeran’s New Jersey shows on September 4 and 5, and was scheduled for eight additional dates before his removal.

The Thrift Shop musician, 43, said Sheeran told him Kraft started a pressure campaign after he said, “Free Palestine” and expressed support for Gaza on stage.

“Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium. Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively gave him an ultimatum: ‘If Macklemore stays on tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues’,” he said.

Kraft confirmed he opposed Macklemore performing two shows at his stadium later this month, but did not address the alleged rallying of other owners.

He claimed his stance was due to Macklemore’s “recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.”

At his first show, Macklemore had told the audience he wanted Palestinians to know “we have not forgotten about them”.

These comments led to calls from the Israeli-American Council for him to be removed from the tour.

At the following day’s show, Macklemore reiterated his stance while also addressing Jewish audience members.

“Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you,” he told the crowd. “My message is for peace, love, for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and equality.”

The Loop tour is scheduled to continue at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on September 19.