Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour has become entangled in international politics after several acts announced they were quitting the tour over the exclusion of rapper Macklemore, who had spoken out in support of Palestinians during earlier shows.
Singer Finneas, the brother of Billie Eilish, Irish artists Aaron Rowe and Beoga, and Danish group Lukas Graham said on Tuesday they were cancelling their appearances on the tour. Sheeran had said on social media that the decision to drop Macklemore came from the tour's promoter and was not his own.
Macklemore had been the opening act on the Loop Tour. During two concerts at MetLife Stadium near New York in early September, he shouted "Free Palestine" and told Palestinians they had not been forgotten.
Artists explain their departure
Finneas said on Instagram that artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed, adding that he stood in solidarity with Palestine and its people.
Beoga said it was leaving the tour over what it called the silencing of Macklemore by Zionist lobbies, saying that as Irish people the group understood colonialism. The band has long supported the Palestinian cause.
Rowe also invoked Ireland's history, saying that as Irish people they knew all too well what genocide, engineered famine and violent occupation meant.
Lukas Graham said it was withdrawing over threats made by several stadium owners if Macklemore remained on the tour.
Macklemore's stance on Gaza
Macklemore has repeatedly described Israel's military offensive in Gaza, launched in response to the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023, as a genocide. In 2024 he released the song "Hind's Hall" in tribute to Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl whose death prompted an international outcry.
Accusations of antisemitism
Critics accuse Macklemore of feeding antisemitic stereotypes. In 2014 he wore a costume with an exaggerated nose and beard on stage, an incident for which he later apologised publicly. Detractors also point to the video for his 2025 song "Fucked Up," which showed a puzzle combining a 100-dollar bill on one side and an Israeli flag on the other.
Sheeran defends his silence
On Tuesday, Sheeran said he respected the strength of Macklemore's convictions while defending his own decision not to speak publicly on political subjects, including Gaza. He said he was not complicit and that he held personal opinions on what he called a devastating conflict, adding that choosing not to voice them publicly did not mean he had none or that he was unaffected by the situation. He said people who came to his shows did not expect to take part in a political forum.
