Finneas joined Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Beoga in abandoning Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour Tuesday after Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian statements led to his removal from the stadium trek.
The rapidly growing exodus left Sheeran without his announced supporting acts for upcoming dates and transformed Macklemore’s dismissal into a wider dispute involving artists, promoters and powerful stadium operators. Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother and longtime musical collaborator, announced he would no longer join Sheeran for six scheduled South American dates in November. Lukas Graham also pulled out Tuesday. The Danish group had been scheduled to perform on Sheeran’s remaining North American dates.
The wave of departures followed Macklemore’s removal from the Loop tour after his Sept. 4 and 5 appearances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. During the shows, the Seattle rapper expressed support for Palestinians and said “Free Palestine.” Macklemore subsequently alleged New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft helped organize opposition among stadium owners to his continued participation. Kraft defended the decision, citing what he described as Macklemore’s “recent actions” and “a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.”
Sheeran said Tuesday that removing Macklemore was not his decision. He said promoters and venues made the final call after some stadium operators indicated they would not host upcoming concerts if Macklemore remained on the lineup. Sheeran said he had attempted to mediate the dispute while maintaining that he generally keeps political issues away from his professional platform.