NEW YORK — September 16, 2026: Ed Sheeran’s North and South American tour has been thrown into uncertainty after four supporting artists announced they were leaving the tour in solidarity with rapper Macklemore.
The departures followed the decision to remove Macklemore from Sheeran’s tour after the rapper made pro-Palestinian remarks during a concert. Irish musicians Aaron Rowe and Beoga, Danish group Lukas Graham, and singer-songwriter Finneas each announced that they would no longer participate in upcoming tour dates.
Rowe and Lukas Graham had been lined up to replace Macklemore at several remaining U.S. performances. Beoga had also been appearing with Sheeran during parts of his shows, while Finneas was scheduled to join the tour for its South American dates later this year.
Artists Speak Out in Support of Palestine
Finneas announced his withdrawal on Instagram, saying artists should be able to speak about issues affecting oppressed people. He also expressed support for Palestinians and said that position was behind his decision to leave the tour.
Beoga and Rowe also referenced Ireland’s historical experiences in explaining their decisions. Beoga said the group remained committed to activism connected to Palestinian rights, while Rowe described Sheeran as a friend but said he could not remain silent over the issue.
Lukas Graham described leaving as a difficult decision and thanked Sheeran for their professional relationship. The band also argued that financial influence should not determine which voices can participate in public discussions.
Sheeran Says Macklemore’s Removal Was Not His Decision
Sheeran has attempted to distance himself from the decision to remove Macklemore, saying the move was made by the tour’s promoters rather than by him.
In a social media statement, the British singer said he did not want to abandon fans who had made plans to attend his concerts or the touring staff and musicians who depend on the shows for their livelihoods.
Macklemore said he was removed from the tour after making pro-Palestinian remarks during a Sept. 5 performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. During the show, he also introduced his protest song “Hind’s Hall” while calling for support for Palestine.
Why Macklemore Was Dropped
Macklemore said several U.S. venues had informed the promoter that they would not allow him to perform as Sheeran’s opening act. He attributed the pressure to Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns several sports and entertainment properties, including Gillette Stadium.
Kraft said Macklemore’s removal was connected to the rapper’s recent statements as well as what Kraft described as a broader history of comments and imagery that he considered offensive to Jewish people.
Sheeran Maintains a Nonpolitical Approach
Sheeran said he has personal views about the Gaza conflict but has generally chosen not to discuss them publicly because he believes audiences attend his concerts primarily for music rather than political debate.
He said his goal is to make his shows welcoming to people from different backgrounds and described his approach as one focused on dialogue, diplomacy and creating a safe environment.
Sheeran also said he respected Macklemore’s willingness to publicly express his beliefs, while emphasizing that artists can pursue peace through different approaches.
The dispute has now placed additional attention on Sheeran’s upcoming performances. Macklemore had been scheduled to appear at eight of the tour’s remaining 10 shows, with upcoming stops including Philadelphia, Gillette Stadium, Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium.
