All supporting acts have withdrawn from Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour in solidarity with Macklemore, who was removed from the lineup for onstage comments made in support of Palestine. Sheeran’s touring band, a traditional Irish group called Beoga, have also announced their departure.
Macklemore confirmed that he had been removed from the Loop tour in a statement shared on Instagram. He explained that Robert Kraft, CEO of the Kraft Group, had teamed up with other stadium owners to give Ed Sheeran an ultimatum: “If Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.”
This came after the rapper made pro-Palestine comments during two shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Macklemore wrote on Instagram: “[Sheeran] told me that the words ‘Free Palestine’ and the image of the Palestinian flag were hurtful to a lot of people he spoke with. I told him that if those words were more offensive than tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a fundamental disconnect between where those people stood and where I stood.”
Macklemore added that Ed Sheeran maintained a neutral stance, and noted, “There is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed. When one side has the bombs and bottomless financial and military support from America, refusing to take a side doesn’t leave you in the middle.”
He concluded his statement, sharing, “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.”
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The news was met with solidarity from the other support acts, including Ireland’s Aaron Rowe. He confirmed that he was withdrawing from the North American tour, saying, “As Irish people we know too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation.”
Rowe continued, “I cannot 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.”
Pop band Lukas Graham and singer-songwriter Finneas also announced their withdrawals on social media.
The former wrote, “We should be able to speak about war, about civilians being killed, about children who deserve to grow up. Wherever they live. Whatever flag flies over them…
“Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation. Nobody’s bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we’re allowed to acknowledge.”
Finneas similarly shared, “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed… I stand with Palestine and its people.”
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Ed Sheeran’s touring band, Beoga, also stepped away from the tour, stating, “We are a traditional Irish band who never saw ourselves playing in stadiums of that size and that opportunity is not lost on us… As musicians, playing to those crowds every night is the stuff of dreams but to play in venues that silence anyone advocating for a Free Palestine is simply not an option for us.
“It’s important that everyone knows that the real enemy is the zionist lobby. They have worked tirelessly to silence artists who want to speak freely about a genocide happening before our eyes, for fear of retribution.
“Research how much Robert Kraft has done to fight the BDS movement. That will give you a sense of what we’ve all been up against.”
Beoga reaffirmed its solidarity with Macklemore and his message in MetLife Stadium, and concluded: “As founding members of the Irish Artists For Palestine movement, we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be. This whole episode is once again serving to distract from the real issue, over 1000 Palestinians have been killed since the most recent so-called ceasefire.”
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Another Irish group, BIIRD, who were touring with Ed Sheeran at the time of the New Jersey shows, also put out a statement.
“Our time on the Loop Tour has already come to an end. Our last show was at the MetLife stadium where we witnessed Macklemore’s speech. We stand unequivocally behind every word he said,” they shared.
“Our support is with the people of Palestine, with the artists who have made the difficult decision to step away from the tour and with anybody that speaks up against Zionist lobbying groups.”
Other artists uninvolved with Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour also expressed their solidarity with Macklemore, including CMAT, who commented “Free Palestine” on his original social media post.
Ed Sheeran put out a statement of his own, explaining the situation from his point of view. He confirmed that venues had threatened to pull shows if Macklemore was involved, and said that he tried to “find a mutual resolution for all, but the venue’s and promoter’s decision was final”.
He denied claims that he is “complicit”, but maintained a neutral stance on Israel’s genocide in Gaza. He also stated that he does not use his “professional platform for politics” and those who come to his shows “do not expect a political forum”.
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