Middle East: Support acts for Sheeran pull out of tour following Macklemore incident

Rome, 16 Sept. (LaPresse) – Several support acts have pulled out of Ed Sheeran’s tour after rapper Macklemore was removed for pro-Palestinian comments made during a concert in New Jersey. Just a few hours after Sheeran had posted on social media about Macklemore’s removal – attributing the decision to the tour organisers – Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Finneas and the Danish band Lukas Graham announced on Instagram that they were withdrawing from Sheeran’s tour. As reported by CBS News, Rowe and Lukas Graham were due to replace Macklemore on Sheeran’s remaining US dates, whilst Beoga were set to perform with Sheeran halfway through each concert, playing several songs, including some written in collaboration with the Irish folk band. Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother and musical collaborator, was due to tour with Sheeran in South America later this year. The actions of his fellow artists have put enormous pressure on Sheeran, who has sought to steer clear of politics and avoid taking sides in the Gaza conflict, arguing that his fans do not come to his concerts to hear him talk about politics. On Monday, Macklemore stated on Instagram that several US venues had informed the promoter that they would prevent him from performing as the support act for Sheeran’s concert, a move prompted by Robert Kraft, owner of the NFL’s New England Patriots.