Ed Sheeran's Tour Crumbles as Artists Exit Over Macklemore Palestine Controversy

The Ed Sheeran U.S. tour, known as the Loop Tour, has been embroiled in significant controversy following the dismissal of opening act Macklemore due to his on-stage "Free Palestine" messaging and the subsequent withdrawal of several other supporting artists. The controversy, which began in early September, escalated when Macklemore used his platform during his first two shows at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., to call for a "free Palestine" and reiterate his belief that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians. This stance aligns with conclusions by the United Nations and other human rights groups regarding the Israel-Hamas war, while Israel and its allies, including the United States government, deny these claims, affirming Israel is justly defending itself in response to the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023. The Associated Press reported in June that over 73,000 Palestinians have died in the ensuing violence, citing Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Following these politically charged performances, calls for Macklemore's removal intensified, with public figures like P!nk and the Israeli-American Council launching a petition demanding action. On Monday, September 14, Messina Touring Group, the Loop Tour's U.S. promoter, announced Macklemore's dismissal. This decision was prompted by venue owners scheduled to host Sheeran's upcoming shows threatening to cancel if Macklemore remained on the lineup. Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium—where the tour was slated to play later in September—further confirmed his decision to ban the rapper. Kraft stated, "Based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the Sept. 25 and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line.”

Macklemore responded swiftly to his dismissal, stating, "There is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed." He added, "I didn’t need 10 shows from Ed. I needed 2. Two chances to stand in front of 90,000 people and say the words that somehow became too dangerous to say. Free Palestine. But if those words cost me the stage, while turning the conversation back to Palestine, then it was the most successful tour I’ve ever been on."

Ed Sheeran himself addressed the situation on Tuesday morning, emphasizing that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by his tour promoter, not by him. Sheeran stated that venues communicated they would pull shows if Macklemore remained on the lineup, and that the promoter's stance was based on "how Macklemore conveyed part of his message during his performance, rather than on everything that was said." Sheeran expressed his respect for Macklemore’s "strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes" but highlighted his own desire to use his platform "to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed." He had spent the week attempting to "build bridges" but was ultimately unsuccessful.

In a wave of solidarity, several other supporting artists began to withdraw from the Loop Tour. Aaron Rowe, one of Sheeran's openers who had been involved on and off since February, was the first to announce his voluntary departure on Tuesday, September 15. In a statement shared to Instagram, Rowe, an Irish singer-songwriter, stated he could not "stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children." He drew a poignant parallel to Irish history, noting, "But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation. I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal." He concluded his statement with "FREE PALESTINE."

Following Rowe's announcement, Oscar and Grammy-winning artist Finneas, who was scheduled to begin a stint of opening dates in October, also withdrew. He shared a succinct statement: "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, a supporting act since August, similarly announced his departure, stating, "I love Ed, and I’m grateful for everything we’ve shared. That hasn’t changed. But I can’t put these words out into the world and carry on with this tour as things stand. We’re withdrawing from the remaining dates." Even Beoga, the traditional Irish band that had been playing a six-song mini set alongside Sheeran during the Loop Tour shows, chose not to complete the trek. They cited "the silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies" as their reason, emphasizing that despite their decade-long friendship with Sheeran and the unique opportunity of stadium performances, "To play in venues that silence anyone advocating for Free Palestine is simply not an option for us."

As a result of these widespread withdrawals, there are currently no openers remaining on Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour, marking a significant impact on the trek's lineup and sparking broader conversations about artistic freedom, political expression, and global conflicts within the entertainment industry.