Ed Sheeran's US Tour Support Acts Quit Over Macklemore
All remaining support acts on Ed Sheeran's US tour drop out after rapper Macklemore was removed for pro-Palestinian stage remarks.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- All support acts on Ed Sheeran's US tour have announced their departure.
- The walkout follows Macklemore's removal over pro-Palestinian remarks.
- Finneas and Danish band Lukas Graham are among those who quit.
- Ed Sheeran stated he aims to keep his platform neutral and focused on music.
The music world was shaken as all remaining support acts on Ed Sheeran's US tour announced their departure from the lineup. The mass withdrawal follows the controversial removal of rapper Macklemore, who was dropped from the tour after making pro-Palestinian remarks during his stage performances in New Jersey in early September 2026.
Among the artists joining the boycott is Finneas, the producer and musician brother of pop star Billie Eilish, who issued a statement emphasizing that artists must not be silenced when speaking up for the oppressed. They were soon joined by Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, Danish pop band Lukas Graham, and Irish folk group Beoga, who regularly perform alongside Sheeran on stage every night.
The controversy initially sparked on September 4, 2026, during Ed Sheeran's concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, told the audience he wanted to stand in stadiums and voice support for Palestine, displaying footage of devastation in Gaza on the big screens while performing his track Hind's Hall, dedicated to pro-Palestinian student protesters at Columbia University.
The remarks immediately triggered backlash from Jewish advocacy groups. The Israeli American Council launched a petition demanding his removal, while the group StopAntisemitism accused him of ambushing fans with propaganda—a claim amplified by pop star Pink on Instagram. Despite Macklemore addressing the audience the following night to clarify that his criticism was directed at the Israeli government rather than Jewish people, tour promoters Messina Touring Group ultimately pulled him from the lineup after facing pressure from venue operators.
"Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed."
Finneas
Ed Sheeran addressed the controversy through a statement, explaining that he had spent the week in discussions with venues to bridge the gap before promoters made the final decision to drop the rapper. Sheeran stressed that he chooses not to use his professional platform for politics because his audiences include young children of all backgrounds who attend concerts for music, not political forums.
This ongoing controversy highlights the delicate intersection of international politics, artistic expression, and large-scale entertainment business. As global tours involve complex networks of venue owners, promoters, and supporting artists, balancing ideological stances with contractual obligations becomes exceptionally difficult. Sheeran's attempt to maintain a neutral sanctuary for his audience underscores the friction artists face when geopolitical tensions spill onto commercial concert stages.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
However, Sheeran's remarks failed to quell the discontent among his supporting acts. Lukas Graham posted on Instagram arguing that people should be permitted to discuss war and the protection of civilians regardless of nationality. Meanwhile, Macklemore claimed on Monday that the boycott against him was orchestrated by billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts. Kraft responded by stating that ignoring Hamas's actions while sharing selective information only deepens hatred and division.
Source: BBC World
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