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NEW YORK: Four supporting acts, including all scheduled opening acts, quit Ed Sheeran\u2019s tour on Tuesday after the rapper Macklemore was removed for pro-Palestinian comments onstage during a recent show.<\/p>\n
Hours after Sheeran posted on social media about Macklemore\u2019s ouster and attributed the decision to the tour\u2019s promoters, Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, the Danish band Lukas Graham, and Finneas posted on Instagram that they would withdraw from Sheeran\u2019s tour.<\/p>\n
Rowe was one of Macklemore\u2019s replacements for Sheeran\u2019s remaining US dates, while Beoga was serving as Sheeran\u2019s touring band. Finneas, who is Billie Eilish\u2019s brother and musical collaborator, was due to tour with Sheeran in South America later this year.<\/p>\n
Rowe and Beoga each cited their country\u2019s history in their statements explaining their decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d Beoga said.<\/p>\n
Rowe called Sheeran a friend and said he\u2019d changed his life.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation,\u201d he said, saying he could not \u201cstand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finneas, who has publicly advocated for Palestinians in the past, reiterated his support.<\/p>\n
\u201cArtists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n
Lukas Graham, meanwhile, expressed gratitude toward Sheeran and called it \u201ca difficult decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMoney doesn\u2019t give you the right to own the conversation. Nobody\u2019s bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we\u2019re allowed to acknowledge,\u201d the band posted, seemingly referring to billionaire Robert Kraft\u2019s role in Macklemore\u2019s removal from the tour.<\/p>\n
Emails seeking comment were sent to Sheeran.<\/p>\n
Sheeran weighed in on Macklemore being dropped as his opening act 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cMacklemore coming off tour was the promoter\u2019s decision, it was not mine,\u201d Sheeran wrote on Instagram on Tuesday. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tour\u2019s promoter, the Messina Touring Group, did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment Tuesday. Macklemore\u2019s publicist also did not immediately respond.<\/p>\n
Sheeran\u2019s statement came a day after Macklemore said he was kicked off the Loop Tour after exclaiming \u201cFree Palestine!\u201d during the Sept. 5 date at New Jersey\u2019s MetLife Stadium while introducing his protest song \u201cHind\u2019s Hall.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, it in no way is criticism of you,\u201d he said during the concert.<\/p>\n
Macklemore said Monday on Instagram that several US venues told the promoter they would prohibit him from performing as Sheeran\u2019s opening act, rallied by Robert Kraft, owner of NFL\u2019s New England Patriots. His Kraft Group also owns Gillette Stadium, where the Patriots play.<\/p>\n
In a statement Monday, Kraft said the decision to cancel Macklemore was a result of his recent comments \u201cand a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sheeran said in his latest post that he \u201cspoke with the venues at length all week to try to build a bridge,\u201d but that \u201cthe venue\u2019s and promoter\u2019s decision was final.\u201d<\/p>\n
A growing chorus of organizations and experts say Israel\u2019s wartime actions in Gaza amount to genocide \u2014 an accusation Israel vehemently rejects.<\/p>\n
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. Ahead are stops at Gillette Stadium, Atlanta\u2019s Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Indianapolis\u2019 Lucas Oil Stadium.<\/p>\n
In his social media statement, Sheeran said he tries to use his music to \u201cbring people from all backgrounds and cultures together\u201d and that while he has personal views about \u201cthis devastating conflict,\u201d he chooses not to speak publicly because people who come to his shows \u201cdo not expect a political forum.\u201d He added: \u201cI am not complicit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI respect Macklemore\u2019s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes,\u201d Sheeran added. \u201cHowever, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n