Ed Sheeran performs during the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball concert at Madison Square Garden, in New York City, US, Dec. 12, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Kylie Cooper

Four of the supporting acts for Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour abruptly quit on Tuesday in solidarity with the rapper Macklemore, who was recently dropped from the tour for making anti-Israel comments onstage.

Mere hours after Sheeran released a statement distancing himself from Macklemore’s firing and saying the decision was made by tour promoters, the Danish band Lukas Graham, Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, and Grammy- and Oscar-winning musician and producer Finneas posted on Instagram that they were all stepping away from the tour.

Rowe and Lukas Graham were set to replace Macklemore as the opening act for the remainder for Sheeran’s tour in the US through November. Beoga had been performing songs with Sheeran during the concerts, and Finneas, who is Billie Eilish’s brother and longtime musical collaborator, was scheduled to tour with the “Azizam” singer in South America in November and December.

“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” Finneas said in a statement shared on Instagram. “I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.”

“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,” Lukas Graham said in a separate statement posted on Instagram. “I can’t put these words out into the world and carry on with this tour as things stand. We’re withdrawing from the remaining dates. I’m sorry we won’t be there. This is a difficult decision, but it’s one I need to stand by.”

The band also shared three emojis of a watermelon, which has been used to symbolize solidarity with Palestinians since the fruit has the same colors as the Palestinian flag.

Rowe declared “Free Palestine” in his own statement and said Irish people “know all too well about genocide, forced famine, and violent occupation.” He accused “billionaires” of trying to “silence” criticism of what he claimed is “Israeli genocide” and “the savage murder of children.”

“I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal,” he added.

The Irish band Beoga, whose members founded the Irish Artists For Palestine movement, accused “Zionist lobbies” of being the “real enemy” and also claimed Israel is committing a genocide. The musicians and activists said, “To play in venues that silence anyone advocating for a Free Palestine is simply not an option for us.”

“We were there for Macklemore’s performance and speech. We fully support his message,” the band added, referring to the rapper’s pro-Palestinian comments during Sheeran’s concerts on Sept. 4 and 5.

Following Macklemore’s remarks, several venues set to host the Loop Tour said they would not allow Sheeran to perform in their arenas if the anti-Israel rapper was his supporting act. Robert Kraft – who owns the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where Sheeran were scheduled to perform on Sept. 25 and 26 — rallied other stadium owners and together they pressured Sheeran’s team to drop Macklemore from the tour. Kraft is also the owner of the NFL’s New England Patriots and founder of the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate, an initiative that focuses on combating antisemitism.

After Macklemore was fired, Sheeran spoke out and said his tour promoter decided to remove Macklemore from the lineup.

“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” Sheeran wrote on Instagram on Tuesday. “Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me. 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 British singer-songwriter said he “spoke with the venues at length all week to try to build a bridge,” and also with promoters and activists on both sides of the controversy “to try and find a mutual resolution for all.” However, “the venue’s and promoter’s decision was final.”

The “Shape of You” singer said he uses his platform and music to “bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together” and his concerts “are about unity, joy, escapism, love, and a place for everyone to feel welcome.”

Sheeran said he has personal views about “this devastating conflict” and insisted, “I am not complicit.” He also noted he chooses not to speak publicly about politics because audiences at his show “do not expect a political forum.”

“I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes,” Sheeran added. “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 … There are different approaches to being an advocate for change.”

Macklemore declared “Free Palestine” and spoke in support of Palestinians while opening two shows for Sheeran at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. After the comments, he went on to perform his anti-Israel protest song “Hind’s Hall.”

In a statement on Monday, Kraft said the decision to call for Macklemore’s removal from the Loop Tour was made because of the rapper’s recent comments and his “broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.”

“I agree with Macklemore. Too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate,” Kraft explained. “Much of my time and attention for the last decade has been focused on the fight against antisemitism and hate of all kinds, and I feel a responsibility to stand up when I believe that line has been crossed …  “I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same – peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate.”