PARIS — Ed Sheeran is facing criticism and the withdrawal of several supporting acts from his Loop Tour after rapper Macklemore was removed from the tour following pro-Palestinian remarks during a New Jersey concert.
Macklemore spoke about Palestinian rights and said “Free Palestine” during Sheeran’s concerts at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 4 and 5. The rapper was later dropped from the remaining U.S. dates of the tour after venue owners objected to his participation.
Sheeran said the decision did not come from him but from the tour’s promoters and venues. He said some upcoming venues had indicated they would cancel the shows if Macklemore remained on the lineup.
The decision triggered further fallout when four supporting acts withdrew from the tour. Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Irish band Beoga announced their departures in solidarity with Macklemore.
Finneas, the brother and frequent collaborator of Billie Eilish, said artists should not face silencing for speaking about oppression.
Macklemore’s removal also drew criticism from artists and advocates who called on Sheeran to support his former opening act.
Palestinian cultural boycott group PACBI urged Sheeran to reinstate Macklemore and called for artists, audiences and crew members to boycott the tour until that happens.
Sheeran has said he does not use his professional platform for political issues. His position has drawn criticism because he previously performed at a 2022 concert supporting Ukraine after Russia’s invasion and signed an open letter opposing Brexit in 2018.
Music industry academics and commentators have also debated whether artists can remain politically neutral when controversies involving their tours intersect with political speech.
The dispute comes as the Israel-Gaza conflict continues to influence conversations across the entertainment industry, with artists and performers increasingly speaking publicly about Palestinian rights and the war.
Sheeran’s next scheduled Loop Tour concert remains set for Saturday in Philadelphia, although the supporting lineup has changed following the withdrawals.
