Ed Sheeran Has No Tour Openers Left After Finneas and Lukas Graham Drop Out Over Macklemore Free Palestine Controversy

Finneas and Lukas Graham have left their supporting slots on Ed Sheeran’s tour following Macklemore’s dismissal from the trek.

On Tuesday, Sept. 15, shortly after Aaron Rowe became the first act to withdraw from the Loop Tour over the controversy, Finneas issued a statement announcing his departure. “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” he wrote. “I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran.”

The Oscar and Grammy-winning artist added, “I stand with Palestine and its people.”

Graham also wrote on Instagram, “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.”

Additionally, Beoga, the band that played a six-song mini set alongside Sheeran during Loop Tour shows, announced Tuesday that it would not finish the trek, citing the silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies.

“We are a traditional Irish band who never saw ourselves playing in stadiums of that size and that opportunity is not lost on us,” Beoga wrote, noting a decade-long friendship with Sheeran. “To play in venues that silence anyone advocating for Free Palestine is simply not an option for us.”

Billboard has contacted Sheeran’s representatives for comment.

Graham joined the Loop Tour lineup in August, and Finneas was scheduled to begin opening dates in October. Rowe, who opened Loop shows starting in February, announced his departure earlier on Tuesday, stating that he could not allow billionaires to use power to silence voices speaking against Israeli genocide and the murder of children.

No openers remain on Sheeran’s tour.

The controversy began in early September when Macklemore called for a free Palestine on stage and performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall.” Calls for his removal followed, including from P!nk, and the Israeli-American Council launched a petition demanding action.

On Monday, Sept. 14, Messina Touring Group, the U.S. promoter for the Loop Tour, announced Macklemore’s removal. “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,” the company stated. “After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates.”

Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium where the tour is scheduled to play later in September, confirmed that he banned the rapper from the venue. He told Billboard in a statement: “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, we determined that his participation in the Sept. 25 and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line.”

Macklemore subsequently shared his account, reiterated support for Palestinians, and emphasized that he views Sheeran as a brother while disagreeing with how events were handled. The British pop star posted a statement Tuesday morning clarifying that the promoter, not him, made the call to dismiss Macklemore.

“I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes,” Sheeran wrote. “However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace. I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed.”

Statements from Finneas, Graham, and Beoga appear below.

Additional reporting by Ariel King.