New Delhi: Singer Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour has witnessed a fresh wave of departures. All four supporting acts—Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Beoga and Lukas Graham—have pulled out of the US tour. Their exits come hours after Sheeran addressed the controversy surrounding American rapper Macklemore’s removal from the tour over his pro-Palestinian comments.
In a social media post on 15 September, Sheeran said that the decision was made after pressure from venues and the tour promoter.
According to him, Macklemore had asked to join the tour last year, and Sheeran agreed because he respected him as an artist. However, following Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” chant at the MetLife Stadium earlier this month, Sheeran revealed that several venues objected to having the rapper.
Earlier this week, Macklemore revealed that the pressure came directly from billionaire Robert Kraft, who in turn convinced other stadiums and stakeholders not to allow him to perform.
“I was informed this stance was based on how Macklemore conveyed part of his message during his performance,” Sheeran said. He added that he had tried to bring the different sides together but was ultimately unable to change the decision made by the venues and promoter.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision; it was not mine,” Sheeran wrote.
He also said that he did not want to abandon fans who had already made plans to attend the concerts, as well as the touring crew and musicians whose livelihoods depend on the shows.
The British singer pushed back against suggestions that his decision to remain publicly neutral meant he was indifferent to the Israel-Palestine war.
“I am appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine,” Sheeran wrote, describing the suffering and pain on both sides as a “human tragedy.”
The 35-year-old said that he had chosen to use his platform to bring people from different backgrounds together rather than publicly take a position on the conflict.
“I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean that I don’t care,” he wrote.
Sheeran said that he had spent the week attempting to “build bridges” between the different parties involved.
“I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too,” he said.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)