Finneas and other musical acts are showing their support for Macklemore — and the Palestinian people — by exiting Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour amid the controversial decision to drop the Seattle rapper from the show.
“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” Finneas, 29, wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, September 15. “I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.”
Lukas Graham also announced they would no longer be performing as a supporting act on the tour.
“It’s hard to watch families in other parts of the world burying the people they love. We should be able to speak about war, about civilians being killed, about children who deserve to grow up. Wherever they live. Whatever flag flies over them,” the group wrote via Instagram on Tuesday. “I love Ed, and I’m grateful for everything we’ve shared. That hasn’t changed. But I can’t put these words out into the world and carry on with this tour as things stand. We’re withdrawing from the remaining dates. I’m sorry we won’t be there. This is a difficult decision, but it’s one I need to stand by.”
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Macklemore, 43, commented: “❤️🇵🇸.”
Sheeran’s Loop Tour made headlines earlier this month when Macklemore performed an opening set at the New Jersey stop on September 4 and 5. The “Thrift Shop” rapper chanted “Free Palestine” and performed his protest track “Hind’s Hall.”
Days later, the concert promoter for the tour announced Macklemore would no longer be performing.
“We have been notified by venues on the upcoming U.S. tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans,” Messina Touring Group said in a statement to Rolling Stone on Monday, September 14. “After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates.”
On Tuesday, Sheeran, 35, spoke out about the turn of events and said it was not his decision to have Macklemore removed from his tour.
“I have spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution and unfortunately, was unable to do so,” he said via Instagram. “I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.”
The artists choosing to exit Sheeran’s tour say it has nothing to do with the headliner. Instead, they simply want to stand with the Palestinian people, who continue to face Israel’s response to the deadly October 7 terrorist attacks, which has resulted in the estimated deaths of over 70,000 Palestinian civilians, including more than 20,000 children, per the Palestinian Health Ministry and the United Nations, at the time of publication.
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“I don’t take the decision lightly. Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life,” Aaron Rowe wrote via Instagram. “I could never thank him enough for this. But as Irish people, we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation.”
In a separate Instagram post, Irish folk band Beoga confirmed their exit from the tour.
“We are a traditional Irish band who never saw ourselves playing in stadiums of that size, and that opportunity is not lost on us,” they wrote. “We have been friends with Ed for over 10 years now and will continue to be. We believe in dialogue as a means of progressing the plight of the Palestinian people.”
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