Ed Sheeran Tour Openers Quit Over Macklemore Removal — SkimNews
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Finneas withdrew from six South American dates on Tuesday, hours after Sheeran's Instagram statement, writing that "artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed."
- Aaron Rowe, an Irish singer scheduled for 10 remaining North American dates, cited Irish history with "genocide, forced famine and violent occupation" and refused to continue "as normal."
- Beoga, Sheeran's Irish backing band of more than 10 years, exited the US tour protesting "the silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies" while stressing they remain friends with Sheeran.
- Lukas Graham also dropped out Tuesday, with frontman Lukas Forchhammer declaring "money doesn't give you the right to own the conversation."
- Ed Sheeran posted that the removal was the promoter and venue's decision, not his, after stadium owners — including Robert Kraft — refused to host Macklemore at their venues.
- Macklemore was removed after telling a MetLife Stadium crowd on 4 September "we have not forgotten about" people in Gaza and "the occupied West Bank," prompting a petition from the Israeli American Council.
- Kraft defended his decision citing Macklemore's "recent actions" and "broader history of antisemitic rhetoric," while children's YouTuber Ms Rachel, singer Kehlani and unnamed politicians joined the backlash against Sheeran's response.
Why it matters: Ed Sheeran loses all four Loop tour openers — including his 10-year backing band Beoga — after blaming Macklemore's removal on promoters and venue owners like Robert Kraft; each departing act cited billionaire pressure, reframing the removal as donor-driven silencing of pro-Palestine speech on major tour stages.
Ask SkimNews
