Recently music artist Macklemore made some remarks from the stage in support of Palestine.  His support for the Palestinians quickly drew a protest including being removed from the tour headlined by Ed Sheeren by the tour’s promoters.

Macklemore’s remarks was only the beginning of what is becoming a major backlash of artists.

To date Sheeren’s house band Beoga,  Irish artist Aaron Rowe, Danish pop band Lukas Graham, and Finneas have all pulled out of the tour in support of Macklemore.

It all began at a performance at MetLife Stadium on September 4 and 5 when Macklemore said, “a big part of the ​reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could ​stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: ‘Free ‌Palestine’”, and performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall” – a song named for Hind Rajab, a five year old girl who was killed allegedly by Israeli troops in Gaza while in a car with her family.  The incident is reportedly under investigation.

Not surprisingly, pro-Israel groups protested and the Israeli-American Council started a petition to have Macklemore removed from the tour.

New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft stated that if Macklemore remained on the tour, they would not be allowed to perform at the stadium.  In addition, Kraft “persuaded” other venues to follow suit.

In a social media post Macklemore said, “Ed Sheeran and his team have made the decision to remove me from The Loop Tour.”

Sheeren has said that the decision was not his to make but was that of the tour promoter Messina Touring Group.

Messina Touring Group confirmed that if Macklemore remained on the tour several of the venues would not allow the performances to go on.

Robert Kraft issued a statement saying, “based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line.”

Kraft added, “I agree with Macklemore. Too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate.”

In a social media post, Ed Sheeren noted, “I am appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy. There are too many wars across the world causing immeasurable pain, none of which should be tolerated.” 

Sheeren added that he preferred to remain neutral on political issues saying, “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me.”

He added, “I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.”

Due to the decision to remove Macklemore from the tour, the fallout quickly accelerated, with Sheeren’s house band Beoga pulling out of the tour saying, “we believe in dialogue as a means of progressing the plight of the Palestinian people. … We are Irish people who understand colonialism. As founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement, we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be.”

Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe has pulled out saying, “I don’t take the decision lightly. Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this.  But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation. 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 and who highlight the savage murder of children.”

Announcing on social media that he would be departing the tour’s South American dates, Finneas said, “artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.  I have decided to withdraw my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.”

Scheduled to run into December, the tour no longer has any opening acts…or a backup band.