Ed Sheeran tour erupts after Macklemore ouster — now the other acts are walking

BS BULLETIN:

Ed Sheeran’s tour is suddenly losing supporting acts after Macklemore was dropped following his pro-Palestinian remarks onstage.
Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, Finneas and Beoga have now withdrawn in solidarity with Macklemore.
Sheeran says removing Macklemore wasn’t his decision and that venues threatened to cancel shows if the rapper remained on the bill.

What started as a fight over Macklemore has turned into a full-blown problem for Ed Sheeran’s tour.

Supporting acts Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Finneas have now withdrawn from upcoming dates in solidarity with Macklemore, along with Irish group Beoga, which has been performing several songs with Sheeran during his shows.

And there’s an especially awkward twist.

Rowe and Lukas Graham had been lined up to help fill dates after Macklemore was removed.

Now they’re leaving too.

The revolt followed Macklemore’s removal from the remaining U.S. dates of Sheeran’s Loop Tour after he used performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to advocate for Palestinians, shouted “Free Palestine” and performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall.”

The concert promoter, Messina Touring Group, said venues hosting upcoming shows informed the company they would not permit concerts to take place with Macklemore on the lineup.

That left Sheeran facing the potential cancellation of shows affecting hundreds of thousands of fans.

Macklemore blamed pressure from venue owners and specifically pointed to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium, where Sheeran is scheduled to perform later this month.

Kraft said Macklemore’s recent conduct, material presented during his New Jersey performances and what Kraft described as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery crossed a line for the stadium.

Kraft also stressed that supporting Palestinians and opposing Hamas and antisemitism should not be mutually exclusive and offered to meet with Macklemore.

Macklemore disputes accusations of antisemitism and argues that criticism of Israel and Zionism should not be equated with hatred of Jewish people.

Sheeran finally addressed the growing controversy Tuesday and said Macklemore’s removal was not his call.

“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” Sheeran said.

He said he had spent the week speaking with venues, promoters, activists and Kraft himself trying to find a compromise.

It didn’t work.

Sheeran said upcoming venues had made clear that shows could be pulled if Macklemore remained.

He also defended his decision not to turn his concerts into political events, saying his audiences include children and people from many backgrounds who come expecting music rather than a political forum.

“I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes,” Sheeran said. “However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace.”

Then the other musicians started walking.

Irish singer Aaron Rowe said Sheeran is a friend who changed his life but that he couldn’t remain on the tour. Rowe cited Ireland’s history while explaining his decision and said he needed to remain true to his beliefs.

Beoga followed suit, identifying themselves as founding members of Irish Artists for Palestine and saying they were committed to continuing their activism.

Lukas Graham also withdrew, saying the decision was difficult and expressing gratitude toward Sheeran. The band took direct aim at the influence of wealthy people over public speech, declaring that “Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation.”

Then came Finneas, the Grammy-winning musician and producer who is also Billie Eilish’s brother and longtime collaborator. He had been scheduled to open six of Sheeran’s South American dates later this year. “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” Finneas said in announcing his withdrawal.

Ms. Rachel — children’s entertainer Rachel Accurso — had already jumped into the controversy before the mass exits, accusing Sheeran of “caving” over Macklemore’s removal.

So Sheeran’s attempt to explain that he didn’t remove Macklemore has now produced another problem. The people who were supposed to remain onstage with him are leaving anyway.