Finneas, other acts quit Ed Sheeran tour over Macklemore

Finneas and three other supporting acts said on September 15 that they had quit Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour after Macklemore was removed from the lineup following pro-Palestinian comments at a New Jersey show.

Finneas, Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, and Denmark's Lukas Graham all posted that they were leaving the tour. Finneas wrote that artists should not be silenced when they speak up for oppressed people and said he stood with Palestine and its people.

Macklemore was removed after opening for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium earlier in September, where he shouted "Free Palestine!" and told Palestinians they were not forgotten.

Sheeran denied being behind Macklemore's removal. He wrote on Instagram that the decision was made by the tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, and said venues had communicated that they would pull shows if Macklemore remained as a support act.

Sheeran said he had held prolonged discussions with venue managers, including Robert Kraft, the owner of Boston's Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots, but was unable to resolve the issue.

Macklemore said Sheeran and his team were not behind his departure. He said Kraft had contacted Sheeran to say Macklemore would not be allowed on stage and alleged that Kraft had rallied other venues to demand his exclusion. Kraft said in a statement that Gillette Stadium would not provide a platform for hate speech.

Sheeran said he respected Macklemore's strength of purpose but did not want his concerts to become a political forum. Macklemore has long publicly supported Palestinians and in 2024 released "Hind's Hall," a song about Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl whose death drew international outrage.