Several artists withdraw from Ed Sheeran's tour following Macklemore's exclusion

Several artists have withdrawn from Ed Sheeran’s “Loop Tour” in protest against the exclusion of rapper Macklemore, following the pro-Palestinian statements he made on stage. Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother, Irish artists Aaron Rowe and Beoga, as well as Danish band Lukas Graham, have announced that they will no longer participate in the concerts.

Macklemore was removed from the tour after chanting “Free Palestine” and saying that Palestinians had not been forgotten during two shows held at the beginning of September at MetLife Stadium, near New York. Finneas said that artists should not be silenced when speaking out in defense of oppressed people.

Ed Sheeran maintained that the decision belonged to the organizers, not him, and that he had unsuccessfully spoken with the owner of Gillette Stadium in Boston. Robert Kraft said he would not provide a platform for hate speech, accusing Macklemore of antisemitic rhetoric. The rapper describes Israel’s offensive in Gaza as genocide and released the song “Hind’s Hall” in 2024. Sheeran says he has personal views on the war but prefers not to turn concerts into a political forum.