Supporting acts quit Sheeran tour after Macklemore removal

Several artists have pulled out of Ed Sheeran’s tour after rapper Macklemore was removed from the lineup over pro-Palestinian comments he made during a concert in New Jersey, escalating a dispute that has drawn in venue owners, promoters and performers across the tour.

Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, Irish band Beoga, Danish band Lukas Graham and musician Finneas all said Tuesday on Instagram that they would no longer take part in Sheeran’s shows. Their announcements came hours after Sheeran said Macklemore’s removal from the U.S. Loop Tour was the promoter’s decision, not his.

“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” Sheeran wrote on Instagram. “I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.”

Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, said Monday that he had been kicked off the tour after saying “Free Palestine!” during Sheeran’s Sept. 5 show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey while introducing his protest song “Hind’s Hall,” a reference to student protests over the Gaza war at Columbia University in New York City.

“To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, it in no way is criticism of you,” Macklemore said during the concert.

In a social media statement, Macklemore said several U.S. venues had told the promoter they would not allow him to perform as Sheeran’s opening act. He said New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, had organized pressure from stadium owners unless Macklemore was removed.

Kraft confirmed to Al Jazeera that he pressured Sheeran to drop Macklemore. In a statement Monday, Kraft said the decision was based on Macklemore’s recent comments “and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.” He told Al Jazeera the ban from his venue was not about “diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians,” but said “advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas.”

Sheeran said he was told the venues’ position was based on how Macklemore delivered part of his message, “rather than on everything that was said.” He added, “I spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge,” but said “the venue’s and promoter’s decision was final.” The tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, did not immediately respond to CBS News’ request for comment Tuesday, and Macklemore’s publicist also did not immediately respond.

The artists who withdrew framed their decisions as opposition to Macklemore’s removal and support for Palestinians. Rowe wrote, “As Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation,” adding that he could not “allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence” voices criticizing Israel. Beoga said it was leaving over “the silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies” and said it believed in dialogue to advance “the plight of the Palestinian people.”

Finneas wrote, “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” adding, “I stand with Palestine and its people.” Lukas Graham said, “We should be able to speak about war, about civilians being killed, about children who deserve to grow up,” and added, “Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation.”

Rowe and Lukas Graham had been scheduled to replace Macklemore on Sheeran’s remaining U.S. dates. Beoga had been performing several songs with Sheeran during his sets, including songs the band co-wrote. Finneas was scheduled to tour with Sheeran in South America later this year.

Sheeran said he has personal views on the conflict but does not use his “professional platform for politics” because audiences at his shows “do not expect a political forum.” He wrote, “I am not complicit,” and said he respected Macklemore’s “strength of purpose” while choosing “to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed.”

Macklemore was scheduled to perform at eight of Sheeran’s 10 remaining stadium shows. The tour is scheduled to resume Saturday in Philadelphia, with later stops including Gillette Stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.