Artists touring with Ed Sheeran quit over rapper’s removal amid Palestine row

Three opening acts and Ed Sheeran’s own backing band have pulled out of his world tour after rapper Macklemore was removed from remaining dates over comments he made about Gaza. Irish singer Aaron Rowe, US musician Finneas, who is Billie Eilish’s brother, and Lukas Graham posted on social media that they had withdrawn from Sheeran’s Loop Tour. Their decision to quit was then compounded by the withdrawal of Irish folk backing band Beoga. During a show at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey last week, American artist Macklemore said he wanted people in Gaza and the West Bank to know they had not been forgotten. This led to a petition demanding he be removed from the remaining dates. On Monday, he posted on Instagram confirming Sheeran and his team had “made the decision to remove” him from the Loop Tour. In a response on the social media platform on Tuesday, Sheeran said his departure from the tour was the promoter’s decision and not his. He said “upcoming tour dates had communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting”, and added Robert Kraft, owner of the Gillette Stadium where he was due to play, was among them. He said: “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.” The Shape Of You singer said he was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine”, and added he respected Macklemore “as an artist”. Rowe said on Instagram he did not take the decision to quit the tour “lightly”, adding Sheeran “has been a friend to me and has changed my life”. Rowe said: “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. “I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal. “I need to be true to myself and my ancestors who resisted colonisation, and fought for a freedom that I enjoy today in Ireland.” In their post, Beoga said: “We have made the decision to depart as Ed Sheeran’s band on the remaining US Loop tour, following the silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies.” The band added: “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.” Finneas said: “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.” Macklemore commented on each of the posts with a love heart emoji and the Palestinian flag. Sheeran’s representatives were contacted for comment.

Artists touring with Ed Sheeran quit over rapper’s removal amid Palestine row

US rapper Macklemore was removed from Sheeran Loop Tour and vocalising support for Gaza.