All support acts on Ed Sheeran's US tour quit after Macklemore dropped

According to BBC News, every remaining support act on Ed Sheeran’s US tour has resigned following the removal of rapper Macklemore from the lineup. Artists including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and the band Beoga cited concerns regarding free speech and the silencing of advocacy for Palestine as their reasons for departing. The decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour's promoters and venue owners, specifically Robert Kraft, who accused the rapper of promoting antisemitism, a claim Macklemore denied.

Ed Sheeran clarified via Instagram that he did not personally remove the rapper and had attempted to negotiate with venues to keep the tour intact. He explained that he prefers to keep his platform focused on being a place of sanctuary rather than a political forum, noting that he did not want to abandon his crew or the fans who had already purchased tickets. Despite this, the supporting musicians expressed solidarity with the cause, arguing that the suppression of discourse regarding the conflict in Gaza was unacceptable.

Macklemore, who had used his stage time to call for a "free Palestine" and display footage of destruction in Gaza, stated that while he understood Sheeran's difficult position, he believed there is no neutral stance in such conflicts. The tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, indicated that the decision to drop the rapper was driven by venue threats to cancel shows, which would have impacted the entire production.

Source: BBC News — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3vgyn49y4l7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss