All Ed Sheeran Support Acts Quit Tour After Macklemore Removal

All of Ed Sheeran's remaining support acts have withdrawn from his Loop Tour, leaving the singer to perform alone at upcoming shows, including a scheduled concert in Philadelphia on September 19. The withdrawals followed the removal of rapper Macklemore from the tour lineup after he made pro-Palestinian remarks on stage. The four acts who pulled out are Finneas, Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, Danish pop band Lukas Graham, and Irish folk band Beoga, which had also served as Sheeran's backing band. Each artist cited the silencing of Macklemore as their reason for leaving. Finneas stated that artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. Rowe and Beoga referenced Ireland's history of colonialism and conflict in their statements. The controversy began after Macklemore said "Free Palestine" during a September 5 concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The Israeli-American Council subsequently launched a petition calling for his removal. Sheeran said in a public statement that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour's promoter, Messina Touring Group, not by him.