Ed Sheeran’s supporting acts pull out of tour after Macklemore was dropped over pro-Palestinian comments

September 15, 2026 / 6:07 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Several supporting acts quit Ed Sheeran's tour on Tuesday after the rapper Macklemore was removed for pro-Palestinian comments he made during a concert in New Jersey.

Hours after Sheeran posted on social media about Macklemore's ouster and attributed the decision to the tour's promoters, Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Finneas, and Danish band Lukas Graham posted on Instagram that they would withdraw from Sheeran's tour.

Rowe and Lukas Graham would have been replacements for Macklemore on Sheeran's remaining U.S. dates, while Beoga had been performing several songs — including some the Irish folk band co-wrote — with Sheeran around the middle of each set. Finneas, who is Billie Eilish's brother and musical collaborator, was due to tour with Sheeran in South America later this year.

The moves by his fellow artists put enormous pressure on Sheeran, who has tried to avoid politics and taking a side in the Gaza conflict, arguing that his fans don't come to his shows to hear politics.

Macklemore said Monday on Instagram that several U.S. venues told the promoter they would prohibit him from performing as Sheeran's opening act, rallied by Robert Kraft, owner of the NFL's New…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/healthwatch/