Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe have all voluntarily withdrawn themselves as support acts on the Ed Sheeran tour after Macklemore was forcibly removed following a pressure campaign from others incluing Billionaire New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium owner, Robert Kraft, over his comments in support of Palestinians
Singer-songwriter Finneas, has publicly stated that he will no longer open for Ed Sheeran on the upcoming South American leg of his Tour.
“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed, I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.”
Other openers artist Lukas Graham and Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe have also declared that they too will not be performing as part of the US leg of the tour.
Lukas Graham took to his instagram to state:-
“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. Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation. Nobody’s bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we’re allowed to acknowledge,”
he continued:-
“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 I won’t be there. This is a difficult decision, but it’s one I need to stand by. I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage,”
Aaron also Rowe also took to his own Instagram to add that he did not:
“take the decision lightly,” also thanking Ed Sheeran for the opportunity he’d given him. “But,” said “as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation… I need to be true to myself and my ancestors who resisted colonization, and fought for a freedom that I enjoy today in Ireland.”
Ed Sheeran has further lost support from Beoga, a traditional Irish folk band who previously have joined him onstage for a run of songs during his set. The band said they made the decision to remove themselves:
“following the silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies.”
Like others they also thanked Ed Sheeran for asking them to join him on tour, but said:
“We believe in dialogue as a means of progressing the plight of the Palestinian people. As musicians, playing to those crowds every night is the stuff of dreams but to play in venues that silence anyone advocating for a Free Palestine is simply not an option for us.”
and further added,
“We were there for Macklemore’s performance and speech. We fully supported his message, so did most of the audience in MetLife Stadium, which terrifies the lobbies. Go back and read the transcript if you’re in doubt. We are Irish people who understand colonialism. As founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement, we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be. This whole episode is once again serving to distract form the real issue, over 1000 Palestinians have been killed since the most recent so-called ceasefire.”
Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour on Monday 14th September after it became known that several venues told Sheeran they would not allow gigs to take place if the rapper was part of the line-up.
Macklemore was heavily criticised by pro-Israel groups for his actions at two shows at MetLife Stadium, where he expressed solidarity with people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank by shouting ‘Free Palestine,’ and shared images of the devastation from Israel’s war in Gaza, and further where he performed his protest song, “Hind’s Hall, about pro-Palestine demonstrators at Columbia University.
Macklemore said in his own statement following his removal that he believed that New England Patriots owner, Robert Kraft, was the pivitol leader in pressuring Ed Sheeran into dropping him by saying;-
“Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium. Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.”
Kraft himself confirmed that he would not allow Macklemore to perform at his Gillette Stadium. He said the decision was based on Macklemore’s “recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.” He did not however comment on Macklemore’s claim that he also “rallied” other stadium owners to pressure Sheeran into dropping Macklemore from other tour dates.
On Tuesday(15th September), Ed Sheeran commented that the decision to drop Macklemore was not his, but that of his promoter for the tour, ‘Messina Touring Group’ following pressure from various venues. He said:-
“I have spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution and unfortunately, was unable to do so. I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.”
THE SONGBIRD HQ