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British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has denied being behind the decision to remove rapper Macklemore from his "Loop Tour" after Macklemore made pro-Palestinian remarks on stage, as four supporting acts announced they were quitting the tour in solidarity with him.
"Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision; it was not mine," Sheeran wrote in a lengthy Instagram post on Tuesday, adding that the tour's promoter, Messina Touring Group, ended the rapper's contract.
Macklemore had been opening for Sheeran on the "Loop Tour" and shouted "Free Palestine!" during two concerts earlier this month at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York City, telling the crowd that Palestinians were "not forgotten."
According to Sheeran, venues on the tour "communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting" Macklemore's continued participation.
Sheeran said he held prolonged discussions throughout the week with venue management, including Robert Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, near Boston, as well as the NFL's New England Patriots. He said he couldn't resolve the issue.
Sheeran also addressed his broader policy of not commenting publicly on political subjects, including the war in Gaza. "I 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 care," he wrote. "Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum. I respect Macklemore's strength of purpose."
On Monday, a day before Sheeran's statement, Macklemore posted on social media that Sheeran and his team were not behind his departure from the tour.
He said Kraft had contacted Sheeran directly to say the rapper would not be permitted on stage, and alleged that Kraft had rallied other venues to demand his exclusion.
In a statement, Kraft said Gillette Stadium would "not provide a platform for hate speech."
After Macklemore's removal, singer-songwriter Finneas, known for his work with his sister Billie Eilish, announced he was stepping down from his remaining tour dates.
"Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed," he wrote on Instagram. "I stand with Palestine and its people."
Irish folk band Beoga, which had been serving as Sheeran's touring band, also announced its departure, saying it was leaving "following the silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies."
The group, which described itself as founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement, said it had been friends with Sheeran for a decade and would remain so, but added: "We are Irish people who understand colonialism."
Irish artist Aaron Rowe, another of Sheeran's opening acts, cited his country's history in explaining his decision to leave the tour.
"As Irish people, we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation," he wrote, describing Sheeran as a friend who "has changed my life."
He added that he could not "stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide."
Danish pop-soul band Lukas Graham also confirmed it was leaving the tour. Frontman Lukas Forchhammer apologized to fans and said money should not determine whose suffering the public is allowed to acknowledge, adding that "we should be able to speak about war, about civilians being killed, about children who deserve to grow up."
The rift over Macklemore's exit has left Sheeran's Loop Tour short several performers, with the promoter, venues and remaining acts yet to issue further statements.
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