Ed Sheeran has found himself in an impossible position after all his supporting acts for his Loop Tour have dropped out. Several acts have said that after Macklemore was asked to leave over his pro-Palestine comments, they followed suit in solidarity.
As reported by The Independent, Ed Sheeran was on the U.S. leg of his worldwide Loop Tour with Macklemore among the many supporting acts for the event. Macklemore was the first to leave the tour and stated that the promoter requested that the Seattle rapper exit the tour due to his support of Palestinians, often seen as an affront to Israel.
Sheeran attempted to soften the blow of Macklemore’s stance and his unceremonious exit by saying he was not “complicit” and that the call was made by the promoter. Shortly after, other acts on the tour, including Sheeran’s band, issued social media statements that they could no longer go forward with the tour despite the massive economic loss it would bring upon them.
Finneas, the brother of Billie Eilish, took to social media to explain his position on not joining Sheeran in South America later this year.
“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” Finneas wrote. “I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.”
Beoga, an Irish band, posted a statment on Instagram explaining why they will leave the tour and, in a bold move, decried the promoter’s support of Israel and Zionist policies.
Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe, the latter of whom was named to replace Macklemore, both posted statements on their Instagram pages that can be viewed below.
Ed Sheeran’s tour was set to resume on September 19 in Philadelphia, having last stopped in MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 5, where Macklemore made the comments about Palestine, a stance he’s long held.
Reactions to the tour’s issues have cropped up online, especially on X, and we’ve got reactions below.
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Photo: Getty
