All three opening acts and Ed Sheeran’s own band quit tour after Macklemore was dropped

All three of the opening acts, as well as his very own band, have quit the tour with Ed Sheeran, after it was revealed Macklemore had been dropped over pro-Palestine comments. 

Macklemore was the support act for Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour, before he was removed after a performance at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 4th September, where he made a speech about Israel and said “Free Palestine” between songs.

Following this, Macklemore went on to say businessman Bob Kraft, behind Kraft Sports Group which owns a number of stadiums, had orchestrated his removal from the tour. 

In response, Bob Kraft shared a lengthy statement with The Hollywood Reporter defending his decision to get Macklemore removed from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour, claiming his comments were “deeply offensive” towards the Jewish community and “crossed a line”. 

‘Artists must not be silenced’

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by FINNEAS (@finneas)

Now, all of the remaining opening acts for the tour have dropped out, as well as Ed Sheeran’s band. Among them is Finneas, the brother of Billie Eilish, who said in a statement: “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.”

Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe and Danish band Lukas Graham also announced their departure. Irish folk band Beoga, who perform with Ed Sheeran on stage every night, also wont be continuing.

Aaron Rowe explained he did not “take the decision lightly,” and added: “Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this.”

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Writing on Instagram, Lukas Graham said: “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.”

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Beoga (@beogamusic)

In its post, band Beoga said: “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.”

In his response to everything, Ed Sheeran claimed he does not use his platform for politics. “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” he said on Instagram. “I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.”

He added: “I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care. Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own, personal way.

“There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics – my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum. I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: Peace.

“I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed. If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change. There are different approaches to being an advocate for change.”

For more like this, like The Tab on Facebook. Featured image via David Fisher/Shutterstock for Global and Instagram.