All four of Ed Sheeran’s supporting acts in his US tour have quit after rapper Macklemore was dropped from the lineup for his "Free Palestine” speech during the shows.
On Tuesday afternoon, Finneas, singer-songwriter and brother of US pop star Billie Eilish, said that he was withdrawing from the tour.
The announcement came after Sheeran responded to the backlash he got after Macklemore was removed from his North American Loop Tour. He said that it was the promoter’s decision to remove the rapper and not his.
“I am appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine,” Sheeran said that Macklemore “asked to join my tour last year and I agreed, because I respect him as an artist”. He said that he allowed the rapper to perform a set list of his choosing, “as with all my support acts”. Sheeran argued that his fans, comprised of young people, don't come to his shows to hear politics.
Hours later, Irish Act Aaron Rowe and Beoga. The Danish band Lukas Graham and Finneas all announced that they were leaving the tour. Beoga’s withdrawal has probably been the biggest blow to the British singer, as they were his backing band for his hit songs like Gakway Girl.
Rowe and Lukas Graham were replacements for Macklemore on the remaining US dates.
Beoga meanwhile was already performing several songs in the set list.
“We 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,” Beoga said.
Rowe meanwhile said that Sheeran was a friend who changed his life. “But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation,” he said. He added that he couldn’t “stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up.”
Finneas meanwhile was set to tour with Sheeran later this year. The songwriter took to Instagram to say, “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.”
“I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.”
Lukas Graham said that their decision to withdraw was difficult and said, “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.”
The reference may have been a hint at billionaire Robert Kraft, who had a role in removing Macklemore from the tour. Kraft owns Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. He reportedly rallied other stadium owners against Macklemore performing on the tour.
Macklemore, known for his hit song Trift Shop gave a two-minute speech on September 4 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey about the occupied West Bank. “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 told the audience before performing Hymns of the Hall, which he dedicated to pro-Palestinian protestors at Columbia University
The move was criticised by the Israeli American Council who launched a petition demanding his removal from the tour. Macklemore responded the next day on stage, saying, "Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, is in no way a criticism of you. He said that he wanted people in Gaza and the West Bank to knwo they have not been forgotten.
The move by the artists will mean that Sheeran would have to seek replacements and go through legal negotiations and major production changes before attempting to resume his tour.
