# Ed Sheeran's tour implodes over Macklemore's Palestine speech

> Four opening acts quit after venues forced the rapper off the tour for saying 'Free Palestine' onstage.
- Title: Ed Sheeran's tour implodes over Macklemore's Palestine speech
- Summary: Four opening acts quit after venues forced the rapper off the tour for saying 'Free Palestine' onstage. Artists are choosing solidarity over career…
- Keywords: ed sheeran, macklemore, finneas, lukas graham, aaron rowe, beoga, loop tour, palestine, israel, robert kraft, gillette stadium, tour cancellation
- Source: Page Six — https://pagesix.com/2026/09/15/celebrity-news/ed-sheeran-tour-openers-finneas-lukas-graham-and-aaron-rowe-drop-out-in-solidarity-with-macklemore
- Published: 2026-09-15T21:17:15+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ed sheeran, macklemore, finneas, lukas graham, aaron rowe, beoga, loop tour, palestine, israel, robert kraft, gillette stadium, tour cancellation
## Four acts quit Sheeran tour
Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga all dropped out of Ed Sheeran's Loop tour after Macklemore was fired.
## Finneas stands with Palestine
The producer wrote on Instagram that artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.

> Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. … I stand with Palestine and its people.
## Irish singer cites genocide history
Aaron Rowe said Irish people know about genocide and forced famine. He couldn't let billionaires silence voices speaking against Israeli actions.

> I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide.
## Lukas Graham rejects money's power
The Danish band said people should be able to speak about war and children being killed without being silenced by wealth.

> Money doesn't give you the right to own the conversation.
## Venues threatened to cancel shows
Sheeran said venues told him future concerts would be pulled if Macklemore wasn't dropped after his New Jersey performances.
## Sheeran tried to build bridges
The singer talked to Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, but couldn't resolve the dispute. He insists the promoter made the final call.

> Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine.
## Macklemore blames Sheeran directly
The rapper said Sheeran and his team made the decision to remove him. They had difficult conversations but reached fundamental disagreement.
## Kraft calls it hate speech
The billionaire said Macklemore's actions and history of antisemitic rhetoric crossed the line. Gillette Stadium won't provide a platform for hate.
## The words that sparked it all
Macklemore claims Sheeran told him the words 'Free Palestine' and the Palestinian flag were hurtful to people Kraft spoke with.
## Key takeaway

Artists are choosing solidarity over career opportunities when they believe free speech is being suppressed.