What to know about Ed Sheeran's tour after Macklemore was cut and other artists dropped out

Ed Sheeran's North and South American tour has been thrown into uncertainty after rapper Macklemore was removed from the lineup following comments he made in support of Palestinians. The decision has since triggered a wider fallout, with all of Sheeran's other announced supporting acts withdrawing from the tour.

Sheeran, who is scheduled to perform in Philadelphia on Saturday, has said the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour's promoter and not by him. The dispute has also drawn billionaire Robert Kraft into the controversy, after Macklemore linked his removal to the owner of the New England Patriots. 

Here's what to know about the developments surrounding Sheeran's tour.

Why was Macklemore removed?

Macklemore was dropped from Sheeran's Loop Tour after he made pro-Palestinian comments during a September 5 concert in New Jersey.

During the performance, the rapper said "Free Palestine" and addressed Jewish members of the audience, arguing that criticism of Israel and opposition to what he described as apartheid and genocide should not be understood as criticism of Jewish people.

The rapper later said his removal from the tour was connected to Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium, where Sheeran is due to perform later this month.

Kraft said the decision was made because of Macklemore's recent comments as well as what he described as a "broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery". He also said the decision was not intended to diminish Palestinian suffering or prevent people from advocating on behalf of Palestinians.

What did Ed Sheeran say?

Sheeran said Tuesday that Macklemore's removal was the promoter's decision.

He said he would not abandon fans who had made plans to attend the concerts, or the touring crew and other musicians who depended on the shows for their livelihoods.

“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” he wrote Tuesday. “I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.”

Sheeran also said he did not want his concerts to become political forums, noting that his audience includes young people and children from different backgrounds. He said he has his own views about the war in Gaza but has chosen not to use his professional platform to publicly discuss them.

In his statement Tuesday, Sheeran said he was “not complicit” and that he had his own views on the war in Gaza.

“There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics, my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my show do not expect a political forum,” he wrote.

The promoter, Messina Touring Group, has not responded to requests for comment, while Sheeran's representative also did not respond to an emailed request.

Why did the other artists leave?

The departures came shortly after Sheeran issued his statement.

Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe had been scheduled to replace Macklemore as opening acts for Sheeran's remaining US shows. Both subsequently withdrew.

Finneas, the American singer-songwriter and frequent collaborator of his sister Billie Eilish, was also due to open four of Sheeran's South American concerts. He announced his withdrawal, saying artists should not be silenced when speaking up for oppressed people.

Irish folk band Beoga, which had been performing with Sheeran during part of his set since the tour began in New Zealand in January, also left.

The supporting acts announced their decisions within roughly an hour of one another on Tuesday.

What did the Irish artists say?

Beoga and Rowe both referred to Ireland's historical experience of colonialism and conflict when explaining their decisions.

Rowe and Beoga cited their country’s history to explain their decision. “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,” Beoga posted.

Rowe called Sheeran a friend. “But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation,” he wrote, adding that he couldn’t “stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up.”

Lukas Graham also appeared to take a veiled shot at Kraft, writing: "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."

Lukas Graham also appeared to criticise the influence of wealth, saying that money should not determine who gets to participate in a conversation or which suffering can be acknowledged.

What is Robert Kraft's role?

Kraft, who owns the New England Patriots and the Kraft Group, became involved in the dispute after Macklemore said his removal was connected to him.

Kraft had criticised Macklemore's comments and said the decision to cancel his appearance was based on those remarks and what Kraft described as the rapper's previous antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.

The dispute took another turn on Wednesday when Macklemore announced plans to donate $1 million from his net earnings from the tour to six organisations assisting Palestinians, including the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. He challenged Kraft to match the contribution.

Kraft later said Sheeran had contacted him before Macklemore's statement and asked him to match $2 million in aid for people in the region.

A spokesperson confirmed that Kraft would make the matching donation, although neither his social media post nor the spokesperson identified the organisations that would receive the money.

What did Macklemore say after being removed?

Macklemore did not directly address the withdrawals by the other artists in his statement Wednesday.

Instead, he said he wanted attention to return to Palestinians affected by the conflict. He referred to Palestinians being killed and living under military occupation, while describing the issue as a struggle for freedom.

His comments followed a lengthy statement Monday in which he discussed his removal from Sheeran's tour.

What happens to Sheeran's tour now?

Sheeran's scheduled performances in North and South America are continuing, but the withdrawal of all the announced supporting acts has changed the planned lineup.

Sheeran is scheduled to perform in Philadelphia on Saturday and later at Gillette Stadium, which is owned by Kraft's group.

Neither Sheeran nor his representatives have publicly addressed the departures of the remaining supporting acts since their announcements. The promoter has also not responded to requests for comment.

Sheeran has previously used his platform to support humanitarian and social causes. In 2022, he performed at the Concert for Ukraine, which raised money for people affected by Russia's invasion, and later collaborated with a Ukrainian band on a charity single. He has also spoken publicly about racism in the UK and criticised government cuts to arts funding.