Ed Sheeran’s support acts quit tour in solidarity with Macklemore

All of the remaining support acts on Ed Sheeran’s US tour have made the dramatic decision to withdraw, in a powerful show of solidarity with the rapper Macklemore, who was controversially dropped from the line-up for his outspoken pro-Palestinian remarks. The wave of departures includes Finneas, the Grammy-winning producer and brother of pop sensation Billie Eilish, who issued a poignant statement asserting that "Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed." Joining him in solidarity are Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, Danish band Lukas Graham, and the Irish folk band Beoga, who regularly perform with Sheeran on stage each night. These significant withdrawals came just hours after Sheeran himself addressed the controversy, stating he would not be drawn into a public debate over the Gaza conflict and emphatically denying responsibility for Macklemore’s removal from the tour.

"Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine," Sheeran declared on his Instagram account, aiming to clarify his position amidst the escalating situation. He further emphasized his commitment to his fans and his touring personnel, adding, "I 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." The genesis of this controversy traces back to earlier this month, when Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, vocally called for a "free Palestine" and projected powerful images of devastation in Gaza during two concerts held in New Jersey. His impassioned statements, however, ignited criticism from various Jewish groups, prompting some venues to exert pressure on the tour promoters to remove him from the remaining dates.

In his own detailed statement, shared via Instagram, Sheeran revealed the extensive efforts he undertook to mediate the situation. He stated, "I have spoken with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge" but ultimately acknowledged that the promoters, Messina Touring Group, made the final decision to "pull the plug." While Sheeran expressed his profound distress over the "appalling conflict between Israel and Palestine" and recognized the "suffering and pain caused on both sides [as] a human tragedy," he also articulated his rationale for maintaining a degree of political detachment on stage. "I am not complicit," he asserted. "I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. 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 further elaborated on his professional philosophy, explaining, "There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics – my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum. I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. However, 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. If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change. There are different approaches to being an advocate for change." He also pointed out that, in line with his practice for all his support acts, Macklemore had been granted complete autonomy over his own setlist.

Despite Sheeran’s carefully worded explanation, his attempt to placate his fans and fellow artists appears to have backfired, galvanizing further support for Macklemore. Lukas Graham, in their statement on Instagram, declared, "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." Aaron Rowe, who had opened the Australian leg of the tour earlier this year and resumed his support role for the US dates in June, admitted that he "did not take the decision [to quit] lightly," acknowledging, "Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this."

The controversy ignited on September 4th when Macklemore performed at Ed Sheeran’s concert at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. He addressed the audience directly, stating, "A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so that I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very, very dear to my heart: Free Palestine." He then performed his song "Hind’s Hall," a piece dedicated to pro-Palestinian protestors at Columbia University and a strong condemnation of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, accompanied by poignant video footage of the destruction in Gaza displayed on the venue’s large screen. While the performance garnered cheers from some attendees, it swiftly drew sharp criticism online.

The Israeli American Council promptly launched a petition demanding his removal from the tour, while the campaign group StopAntisemitism accused the musician of "ambush[ing] fans with propaganda"—a sentiment amplified by pop star Pink, who reposted the accusation on her Instagram account. The following night, Macklemore returned to the same stage and directly addressed his "Jewish brothers and sisters" in the audience. He clarified, "Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, is in no way a criticism of you," and conveyed his solidarity with those in Gaza and the West Bank, assuring them that they had not been forgotten. It is important to note that Israel categorically rejects allegations of genocide, maintaining that its military operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank are conducted in self-defense and in accordance with international law. The Israeli military initiated its campaign in Gaza in response to an unprecedented Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostages taken. During Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza, the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN, reports that more than 73,780 people have been killed.

Following days of intense media coverage, Macklemore announced on Monday that he had been officially dropped from the tour’s lineup. In his Instagram statement, he attributed the boycott to Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts. Kraft, who had previously hired Ed Sheeran to perform at his wedding, confirmed his decision to bar Macklemore, asserting that his venue would not "provide a platform for hate speech" and accusing the rapper of having "a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric." Kraft further stated, "I agree with Macklemore, too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate." However, he did not directly address the claim that he had pressured other venues to influence the tour’s decisions.

The tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, informed Rolling Stone magazine that they had been notified by venues that Macklemore would not be permitted to perform, which "would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans." Many of the acts who withdrew on Tuesday night cited Kraft’s alleged involvement as a significant factor in their decision. Lukas Graham articulated their stance, stating, "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."

In his statement, Macklemore expressed empathy for the difficult position in which Sheeran found himself but criticized the English singer for not taking a more definitive stance. "Taking a side can cost you. Money, brand deals, sponsorships, festivals, private shows, relationships and access. I’ve lost all of those things. But there is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed," he wrote. He also emphasized that, despite only being able to complete two shows on the tour, if his words managed to "turn the conversation back to Palestine, then it was the most successful tour I’ve ever been on."