Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour has been hit by a major wave of withdrawals after four acts announced they would no longer take part in upcoming shows following the removal of Macklemore from the tour.
Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Irish folk group Beoga, Danish band Lukas Graham and American singer-songwriter and producer Finneas have all withdrawn from scheduled appearances.
The departures came after Macklemore was removed from Sheeran’s remaining US dates following comments he made in support of Palestinians during a performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
According to Reuters, Sheeran has stressed that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour promoter and venues, rather than by him personally.
The situation has quickly developed into a major controversy surrounding one of the world’s biggest touring artists.
Why Was Macklemore Removed From The Tour?
Macklemore had been appearing as a supporting artist on Sheeran’s Loop Tour.
During his MetLife Stadium appearance in early September, Macklemore introduced his protest song “Hind’s Hall” and made pro-Palestinian comments from the stage, including saying “Free Palestine.”
Macklemore later announced that he had been removed from Sheeran’s remaining US dates.
Reuters reported that tour promoter Messina Touring Group said venue owners had refused to host shows if Macklemore remained on the bill.
One of the venues involved was Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.
Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium and who also owns the New England Patriots, publicly defended the decision to prevent Macklemore from performing at the stadium.
According to the Associated Press, Kraft said the decision was based on Macklemore’s recent comments and what he described as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that had been offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.
Macklemore has rejected the suggestion that his criticism of Israel is criticism of Jewish people.
During the MetLife performance, he explicitly separated the two, telling Jewish audience members that his criticism of Israel and its actions did not represent criticism of them.
The disagreement ultimately left the tour promoter facing venues that were reportedly unwilling to proceed with Macklemore on the bill.
Ed Sheeran Says It Was Not His Decision
Sheeran subsequently addressed the growing controversy himself.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision; it was not mine,” Sheeran said in a statement reported by ITV News.
Sheeran said upcoming venues had communicated that they would pull the shows if Macklemore remained as a support act.
He said he had spent the week speaking with venues in an attempt to find a solution, but that the final decision belonged to the venues and promoter.
Sheeran also explained why he would not cancel the concerts himself.
He said doing so would affect fans who had already made plans to attend, as well as touring crew, musicians and other support acts who rely on the shows for their livelihoods.
Sheeran said that although he has personal views about the Israel-Gaza conflict, he generally chooses not to turn his concerts into political forums.
He said he has always tried to use his music and platform to bring people from different backgrounds and cultures together.
Sheeran also said he respected Macklemore’s determination to stand up publicly for what he believes.
But his explanation did not stop the fallout.
Aaron Rowe Withdraws
Irish musician Aaron Rowe was among the artists who announced he would no longer perform on the tour.
Rowe made clear that he continues to regard Sheeran as a friend and credited him with having a major impact on his career.
However, he said he could not continue with the tour following Macklemore’s removal.
The Associated Press reported that Rowe and Lukas Graham had been due to replace Macklemore on Sheeran’s remaining US dates.
That makes their withdrawals particularly significant.
They were not simply artists who had already been scheduled alongside Macklemore. They were expected to help fill the support slots following his departure.
Beoga Pull Out Too
Irish folk group Beoga also announced that they would withdraw.
Their departure is particularly notable because their relationship with Sheeran goes well beyond a conventional opening slot.
Beoga have collaborated with Sheeran musically and had been performing several songs with him during the Loop Tour.
The group also worked with Sheeran on “Galway Girl”, which appeared on his hugely successful 2017 album ÷.
Beoga said they could not continue performing in venues where they believed voices supporting Palestinians were being silenced.
As reported by Sky News, Beoga also pointed to their involvement as founding members of Irish Artists for Palestine.
Their withdrawal therefore affects Sheeran’s main performance as well as the wider support lineup.
Lukas Graham Also Withdraw
Danish band Lukas Graham then confirmed they would no longer participate.
The group described the decision as difficult and expressed gratitude towards Sheeran.
However, the band argued that wealth should not determine who is permitted to speak publicly about suffering.
ITV News reported that Lukas Graham had been among the artists expected to appear on the remaining US dates following Macklemore’s departure.
Their withdrawal therefore created another gap in the upcoming support lineup.
Finneas Withdraws From South American Dates
The controversy then extended beyond the remaining US concerts.
Finneas, the Grammy and Academy Award-winning artist and producer known for his solo career and his work with his sister Billie Eilish, announced that he would withdraw from his upcoming dates with Sheeran.
“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” Finneas said in a statement reported by the Associated Press.
He added that he had decided to withdraw from his upcoming dates and said he stood with Palestine and its people.
Finneas had been due to support Sheeran during the South American section of the tour later this year.
His withdrawal means the effects of the dispute now stretch beyond the remaining US shows.
What Happens To Ed Sheeran’s Tour Now?
Despite the controversy, Sheeran’s Loop Tour is still scheduled to continue.
According to the Associated Press, the stadium tour is scheduled to resume in Philadelphia on September 19.
Further US concerts are scheduled to include Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The situation also highlights how complicated a major stadium tour can become when artists, promoters, venue owners and political expression collide.
A stadium tour does not operate solely at the discretion of its headline artist. Promoters and venues have their own agreements and responsibilities, and in this case Sheeran says venues were prepared to pull concerts if Macklemore remained on the lineup.
That distinction is important.
Sheeran says he did not personally make the decision to remove Macklemore.
The tour promoter has said venues would not host the concerts with Macklemore on the bill.
Robert Kraft has defended the decision concerning Gillette Stadium, arguing that Macklemore’s previous rhetoric and imagery had been offensive and hurtful to members of the Jewish community.
Macklemore rejects the suggestion that his criticism of Israel amounts to hostility towards Jewish people and has continued to defend his advocacy for Palestinians.
Meanwhile, Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Lukas Graham and Finneas have each made their own decision to withdraw from scheduled appearances.
What began with comments made during one stadium performance has therefore developed into a much wider dispute involving one of the biggest concert tours in the world.
With Macklemore removed and four other acts now withdrawing, attention will turn to how the remaining Loop Tour dates proceed and who will fill the gaps left in the lineup.
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