Ed Sheeran Tour in Turmoil as Four Support Acts Quit Over Macklemore's Pro-Palestinian Speech Fallout
On Tuesday, four supporting acts unexpectedly withdrew from Ed Sheeran's tour across North and South America, showing their support for rapper Macklemore, who was removed for making pro-Palestinian comments during a performance. This announcement came via social media shortly after Sheeran revealed Macklemore's dismissal, which he attributed to the tour's promoters. The acts departing included Irish musicians Aaron Rowe and Beoga, the Danish group Lukas Graham, and Finneas. Rowe and Lukas Graham were set to take Macklemore's place for the remaining US shows, while Beoga had been collaborating with Sheeran on stage. Finneas was also slated for the South American segment later this year. This series of exits disrupts Sheeran's tour and highlights the growing impact of political statements in the music scene.
Key facts
- Ed Sheeran's North and South American tour faced chaos on Tuesday when four supporting acts quit.
- The acts left in solidarity with rapper Macklemore, who was dropped for pro-Palestinian comments on stage.
- Sheeran posted on social media about Macklemore's ousting, blaming the tour's promoters.
- Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, Danish band Lukas Graham, and Finneas all announced their departures on social media.
- Rowe and Lukas Graham were replacements for Macklemore on Sheeran's remaining US dates.
- Beoga had been performing several songs with Sheeran around the middle of each set, including some the band co-wrote.
- Finneas, Billie Eilish's brother and musical collaborator, was due to tour with Sheeran in South America later this year.
- The withdrawals occurred hours after Sheeran's social media post about Macklemore's removal.
Entities
Artists
- Ed Sheeran
- Macklemore
- Aaron Rowe
- Lukas Graham
- Finneas
- Billie Eilish
- Finneas O'Connell
- Hind Rajab
- Beoga
- Steven J. Horowitz
- Taylor Swift
- David Harbour
- Rafiki Fariala
- Bruno Dumont
- Blerta Basholli
- Shakira
- Romeo Santos
- Prince Royce
Institutions
- Beoga
- MetLife Stadium
- Gillette Stadium
- New England Patriots
- Hamas
- France24
- Variety
- Outsider Pictures
- Cannes
- Sundance
- France's National Film Board
- Premios Juventud
- Emmy
Locations
- North America
- South America
- United States
- Ireland
- Denmark
- New York
- London
- United Kingdom
- Boston
- Gaza
- Israel
- Palestine
- New Jersey
- St. Louis
- France
- Kosovo