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Ed Sheeran Tour Loses Four Supporting Acts Following Macklemore Ouster

Four supporting acts—Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga—have quit Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour in solidarity after rapper Macklemore was removed for his pro‑Palestinian speech, leaving the tour’s remaining dates facing logistical uncertainty.

By Amelia Stone · 15 September 2026, 23:49 · 3 min read

Ed Sheeran Tour Loses Four Supporting Acts Following Macklemore Ouster

Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour has been plunged into profound turmoil following the abrupt departure of four supporting acts who quit in solidarity with rapper Macklemore. The sweeping artist walkouts arrive just days before the concert series was set to resume, leaving the remaining dates facing severe logistical uncertainty and thrusting the British singer-songwriter into the center of an international political firestorm.

The controversy ignited earlier this month during a performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Macklemore used his opening slot to address the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. The rapper delivered a lengthy rant, shouting slogans and performing his protest track Hind’s Hall, which references student demonstrations at Columbia University. While parts of the audience cheered, the remarks drew swift backlash from advocacy groups and fellow musicians, including Joe Bonamassa and Pink, who criticized the introduction of politics into a stadium opening set and pointed to Macklemore's prior history of controversial stage attire according to Whiskeyriff.

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Macklemore subsequently revealed that he had been kicked off the remaining U.S. Dates after venue owners issued ultimatums. He specifically named New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, alleging that Kraft rallied fellow stadium proprietors to threaten tour cancellations if the rapper remained on the bill. Kraft later confirmed his decision to bar Macklemore from Gillette Stadium, citing the rapper's recent statements alongside a broader history of rhetoric deemed offensive to the Jewish community reported Whiskeyriff. Promoters Messina Touring Group noted that venue refusals threatened to cancel entire shows and impact hundreds of thousands of ticket holders reported the BBC.

In response to Macklemore's removal, four supporting acts announced their immediate departure according to Yahoo News. Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe and Danish pop act Lukas Graham, who were scheduled to replace Macklemore on upcoming U.S. Dates, both withdrew. They were joined by traditional Irish folk band Beoga, who served as Sheeran's backing musicians and co-writers noted Whiskeyriff, and Finneas, who was slated to open for Sheeran on the South American leg reported The Globe and Mail.

Artist	Tour Leg Affected	Stated Reason for Withdrawal
Aaron Rowe	U.S. Dates	Solidarity with Palestine, opposition to billionaire venue pressure
Lukas Graham	U.S. Dates	Belief that money and bank balances should not dictate conversations about suffering
Beoga	U.S. Dates	Objection to venues silencing advocates for a Free Palestine
Finneas	South American Leg	Stance that artists must not be silenced when speaking for the oppressed

The mass walkout placed intense scrutiny on Ed Sheeran, who issued a statement via Instagram distancing himself from the removal. Sheeran insisted that dropping Macklemore was strictly the promoter's decision, explaining that he spent days trying to build a bridge between venues and the tour management without success. He emphasized his responsibility to his touring crew and fans who rely on the concerts for their livelihoods, while explaining his choice to remain politically neutral on stage according to the BBC.

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, Sheeran wrote via The Globe and Mail.

The touring schedule remains precarious as organizers scramble to address the depleted lineup.