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All Support Acts Quit Ed Sheeran Tour
September17
All of Ed Sheeran’s remaining supporting acts have withdrawn from his US Loop Tour following the removal of Macklemore after the rapper made pro-Palestinian comments during a concert in New Jersey.
Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Irish group Beoga have all announced that they are leaving the tour, following Macklemore’s removal from the remaining US dates. Beoga had also been performing as part of Sheeran’s live show.
Promoter cites venue objections
The US leg of the Loop Tour is promoted by Messina Touring Group, which is part of the AEG Presents network of promotion companies. Messina has promoted tours for artists including Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, George Strait, Kenny Chesney and The Lumineers.
Messina Touring Group said its decision to remove Macklemore followed objections from venues scheduled to host upcoming concerts.
The promoter said it had been informed by venues that they would not allow concerts to proceed with Macklemore on the line-up, creating the possibility that tour dates involving hundreds of thousands of ticket holders would have to be cancelled. Following discussions with the parties involved, Messina confirmed that Macklemore would no longer perform on the remaining support dates.
Sheeran subsequently said Macklemore’s removal was not his decision, explaining that Macklemore’s contractual relationship was with the promoter. He said he had spent several days attempting to find a solution with those involved.
Robert Kraft and Gillette Stadium
One of the venue owners involved in the dispute is Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, where Sheeran is scheduled to perform.
Kraft, who is Jewish and founded the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, confirmed that he opposed Macklemore appearing at Gillette Stadium. He cited what he considers a history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery connected with the rapper.
Kraft said his position did not oppose support for Palestinians, but argued that such advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community. Macklemore has rejected claims that his criticism of the Israeli government or support for Palestinians is antisemitic.
Macklemore has alleged that Kraft contacted other stadium owners and encouraged them to take a similar position. Messina Touring Group has confirmed that several venues refused to stage concerts with Macklemore on the bill, although there has been no independent confirmation that Kraft coordinated the decisions of those venues.
All remaining support acts withdraw
Following Macklemore’s removal, all four of Sheeran’s other supporting acts announced that they would withdraw from upcoming performances.
Danish band Lukas Graham said its decision concerned the principle that artists should be able to speak publicly about war, civilian deaths and humanitarian issues without financial interests determining which views can be expressed.
Frontman Lukas Forchhammer stressed that the decision was not directed personally at Sheeran.
Finneas, Aaron Rowe and Beoga subsequently confirmed that they would also leave the tour, citing similar concerns over artistic expression and the circumstances surrounding Macklemore’s removal.
Their departure means that all of the tour’s previously announced remaining support acts have now withdrawn following the Macklemore decision.
The dispute has brought attention to the division of authority between headline artists, promoters and venue owners on major stadium tours. Messina Touring Group says venue restrictions left it facing potential concert cancellations if Macklemore remained on the bill, while Macklemore has linked the venue objections to Kraft’s intervention.
The Loop Tour is continuing despite the changes to its supporting line-up.
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