Four support acts quit Ed Sheeran tour after Macklemore was dropped

Maren Kovacs. (2026, September 16). Four support acts quit Ed Sheeran tour after Macklemore was dropped. Dateline Wire. https://www.datelinewire.com/news/ed-sheeran-tour-support-acts-quit/

@article{datelinewire499,
  author  = "Maren Kovacs",\n  title   = "Four support acts quit Ed Sheeran tour after Macklemore was dropped",\n  journal = "Dateline Wire",\n  year    = 2026,\n  url     = "https://www.datelinewire.com/news/ed-sheeran-tour-support-acts-quit/"\n}

[Four support acts quit Ed Sheeran tour after Macklemore was dropped](https://www.datelinewire.com/news/ed-sheeran-tour-support-acts-quit/) — *Dateline Wire* (2026). Corroborated multi-source report.

Support acts walk out as Ed Sheeran tour unravels over Macklemore’s ouster

Ed Sheeran’s North and South American tour faced a dramatic collapse on Tuesday as four of his scheduled support acts abruptly withdrew, citing solidarity with rapper Macklemore, who was removed from the lineup for making pro-Palestinian comments during a concert. The exodus of artists, including Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, Danish band Lukas Graham, and Billie Eilish’s brother Finneas, intensified the controversy surrounding Sheeran’s decision to distance himself from the fallout. The crisis began on September 5, when Macklemore, during a performance at Sheeran’s MetLife Stadium concert in New Jersey, declared “Free Palestine” and screened footage of Gaza’s devastation while performing his song “Hind’s Hall,” dedicated to Palestinian victims of Israeli military actions. Jewish groups and some venues later pressured the tour’s promoters to remove him, a move Macklemore claimed was orchestrated by billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium. Kraft denied direct involvement but cited Macklemore’s “broader history of antisemitic rhetoric” as justification for the decision.

Detail	Information
Support acts who quit	Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Finneas, Lukas Graham
Reasons cited	Pro-Palestinian solidarity, criticism of corporate power, colonialism, and antisemitism
Sheeran’s stance	Attributed Macklemore’s removal to promoters, denied public political engagement
Upcoming tour dates	Philadelphia, Gillette Stadium, Atlanta, Indianapolis

Rowe, who had been positioned as a replacement for Macklemore on Sheeran’s U.S. dates, called the decision to leave “a difficult one,” emphasizing his Irish heritage and ties to the Irish Artists for Palestine movement. Beoga, Sheeran’s touring band, stated that “colonialism” and “genocide” were central to their choice, while Finneas, a Grammy-winning producer, declared that “artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.” Lukas Graham echoed similar sentiments, condemning the “bank balance” of wealthy individuals like Kraft as a barrier to free expression. Sheeran, who has long avoided public political commentary, posted on Instagram that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour’s promoters, the Messina Touring Group, and not by him. He defended his approach, stating that his fans “do not expect a political forum” and that he sought to “maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open.” However, his refusal to take a public stance drew sharp criticism from the departing artists, including Macklemore, who accused him of “not taking a side” despite the “oppressor and oppressed” dynamic.

Pressure mounts on Sheeran as tour dates loom

The fallout has cast a shadow over Sheeran’s remaining tour dates, which include high-profile stops at Gillette Stadium and Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The tour’s promoter, Messina Touring Group, has not commented publicly on the exodus, though sources indicate that venues had previously threatened to cancel the entire tour if Macklemore remained on the lineup. Kraft, who has not directly addressed the artists’ withdrawals, reiterated his stance that Macklemore’s comments “were deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.” Macklemore, who performed at only two of the 10 scheduled shows, claimed his brief stint on the tour was “the most successful” if it “turned the conversation back to Palestine.” He also criticized Sheeran for failing to “stand up and shout for what he believes,” despite their 13-year friendship. “There is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed,” he wrote.

Artists frame the dispute as a battle over free speech and corporate influence

The quitting acts framed their decisions as a rejection of what they called a “systemic” effort to suppress Palestinian voices. Beoga, in a statement, referenced Ireland’s history of colonialism to argue that “genocide, forced famine, and violent occupation” were not abstract concepts but lived realities. Lukas Graham’s band similarly criticized the “money” behind the decision, suggesting that corporate interests had overruled artistic freedom. Finneas, who had been scheduled to tour with Sheeran in South America, said he would “continue to use my platform to support the oppressed,” while Rowe, who had opened for Sheeran in Australia earlier this year, called the decision to leave “not lightly.” He praised Sheeran as a friend but insisted that “allowing billionaires to silence voices” was unacceptable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the support acts quit Ed Sheeran’s tour?

The four acts, Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Finneas, and Lukas Graham, quit in solidarity with Macklemore, who was removed for pro-Palestinian remarks during a concert. They cited colonialism, antisemitism, and corporate influence as reasons for their decision.

Did Ed Sheeran have any role in Macklemore’s removal?

Sheeran denied responsibility, stating the decision was made by the tour’s promoters, the Messina Touring Group. He claimed he had “spoken with venues at length” but that their decision was “final.”

What are the implications for the remaining tour dates?

The tour’s promoter has not commented on the impact of the exodus, but venues had previously threatened to cancel the entire tour if Macklemore remained. The remaining dates include high-profile stops at Gillette Stadium and Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The next major test for Sheeran’s tour will come in Philadelphia, where the fallout from the artist departures is expected to dominate the narrative. With the tour’s promoter under pressure and the controversy escalating, the question remains whether Sheeran can maintain the momentum of his stadium dates, or if the exodus of support acts will mark the beginning of a broader reckoning over the intersection of art, politics, and corporate power.