đľđ¸ All of Ed Sheeranâs scheduled supporting acts have quit his Loop tour after Macklemore was removed for declaring âFree Palestineâ and condemning Israelâs genocide during two MetLife Stadium shows.
⤠Finneas, the Grammy-winning American singer and producer best known as Billie Eilishâs brother and collaborator, withdrew from six South American dates: âArtists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. I stand with Palestine and its people.â
⤠Dublin singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe said Irish people know âgenocide, forced famine and violent occupation.â He accused billionaires of silencing opposition to Israelâs genocide and âthe savage murder of children.â
⤠Danish pop band Lukas Graham, known for the hit â7 Years,â said: âMoney doesnât give you the right to own the conversation. Nobodyâs bank balance should decide who gets to speak.â
⤠Beoga, the Northern Irish folk band that collaborated with Sheeran on âGalway Girl,â served as his touring band and helped found Irish Artists for Palestine, said playing venues that silence advocacy for a free Palestine was âsimply not an option.â The group accused âthe Zionist lobbyâ of trying to silence artists.
Sheeran says he is ânot complicit,â as promoters and stadiums made the decision to remove Macklemore. Macklemore noted that billionaire Robert Kraft rallied venue owners to threaten the tour with cancellation if he remained.