This story has been updated with the news that Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and Beoga have all dropped out of Ed Sheeran\u2019s tour.<\/p>\n
The remaining opening acts on Ed Sheeran<\/a>\u2019s ongoing tour, along with his backing band, have resigned in solidarity with Macklemore<\/a>, who had been removed from the run after calling for a free Palestine.<\/p>\n On September 14, after being dropped<\/a> from one of the opening slots on Sheeran\u2019s tour, Macklemore released a statement<\/a> in which he blamed both Sheeran and Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft for removing him from future dates. Messina Touring Group, a subsidiary of AEG, confirmed that multiple venues had joined Kraft\u2019s Gillette Stadium in opposing the rapper\u2019s presence on the bill. In his post, Macklemore accused Kraft of rallying the owners of those venues to follow his lead. Sheeran eventually responded with a statement<\/a> of his own, putting the blame on the promoter.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter Macklemore\u2019s performances at my New Jersey shows, venues on my upcoming tour dates communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting,\u201d Sheeran wrote. \u201cI was informed that this stance was based on how Macklemore conveyed part of his message during his performance, rather than on everything that was said.\u201d He added, \u201cMacklemore coming off tour was the promoter\u2019s decision, it was not mine.\u201d<\/p>\n Following Sheeran\u2019s post, the pop star\u2019s remaining support acts\u2014Finneas<\/a>, Lukas Graham<\/a>, and Aaron Rowe<\/a>\u2014along with his backing band, Beoga<\/a>, said they would leave the tour due to Macklemore\u2019s removal. \u201cArtists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,\u201d Finneas posted on Instagram<\/a>. In his own statement<\/a>, Rowe wrote, \u201c[As] Irish people<\/a> we know all too well about genocide, forced famine, and violent occupation. 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 the savage murder of children. I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal.\u201d<\/p>\n In his statement, Sheeran had also addressed his commitment to political neutrality: \u201cI 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\u2019t care.\u201d He cited the presence of \u201cyoung people, often children\u201d at his concerts as part of his rationale. \u201cI choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary,\u201d Sheeran added, \u201cto maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed. If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change.\u201d<\/p>\n The statement concludes, \u201cI have spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution and unfortunately, was unable to do so. I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.\u201d Read it in full below.<\/p>\n During Macklemore\u2019s opening sets for Sheeran, he showed footage of the destruction in Gaza and performing \u201cHind\u2019s Hall,\u201d his song named for Hind Rajab, a six-year-old killed by Israeli military. \u201cSo why is it an issue now?\u201d, he wrote. \u201cBecause now I\u2019m sharing a stage with one of the biggest artists in the world, in some of the biggest stadiums in America. At a certain level of exposure, \u2018Free Palestine\u2019 becomes too much of a risk.\u201d Macklemore has publicly opposed Israel\u2019s war in Gaza for years.<\/p>\n The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI)\u2014one of the primary organizations behind the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) initiative\u2014has called on<\/a> Sheeran to cancel his tour entirely. In a direct response to Sheeran\u2019s statement, PACBI wrote, \u201cEd Sheeran\u2019s misleading statement attempts to \u2018both-sides\u2019 Israel\u2019s ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and claims to support \u201cpeace\u201d yet fails to even mention its crucial condition\u2014justice.\u201d<\/p>\n