The fallout over Macklemore’s exit from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour grew quickly on Tuesday, with four artists deciding they would no longer take the stage.
Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Beoga and Lukas Graham each announced they were leaving upcoming tour dates after Macklemore was removed following pro-Palestinian remarks at a MetLife Stadium show.
For Finneas, the decision was direct. “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” he wrote on Instagram, adding, “I stand with Palestine and its people.”
Rowe’s statement was more personal. He described Sheeran as a friend who “changed my life,” but said he could not continue with the tour. Beoga, which has a years-long relationship with Sheeran and has joined him during his shows, also stepped away.
Macklemore has 7.7M on Instagram.
— LPC (@landpalestine) September 16, 2026
Ed Sheeran has 47.4M followers.
Notice the difference in the reach and likes between their two posts pic.twitter.com/7FIAm0eIg5
Lukas Graham thanked Sheeran while calling the choice “a difficult decision.” The band added, “Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation.”
The exits followed Sheeran’s own statement about Macklemore, who said he was removed after declaring “Free Palestine!” while introducing his protest song “Hind’s Hall.”
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” Sheeran wrote. He said he tried to work with venues but ultimately could not change the decision.
Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, said Macklemore’s recent comments and a history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery were behind his opposition to the rapper performing at Gillette Stadium.
Sheeran said his concerts are intended to bring people together and added, “I am not complicit.”
When you listen to the speech that caused all of this, you see just how pathetic Ed Sheeran is in accepting this as offensive pic.twitter.com/bWgJ2FvVLZ
— Tiberius (@tiberiusfiles) September 16, 2026