Support acts and backing band pull out of Ed Sheeran’s tour over Macklemore Palestine controversy

After making an impassioned speech calling for “all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality” while opening for Sheeran across recent dates in New Jersey, the rapper faced calls for his removal from the tour by the Israeli-American Council, who claimed he had used his platform to “advance a one-sided political agenda”.

He then responded to critics of his onstage pleas for a “Free Palestine”, saying striving for equality “should never be controversial”, but still he was removed from the tour.

Macklemore compartilhou uma declaração extensa em que alegou que, depois que Robert Kraft — dono dos New England Patriots e do Gillette Stadium — iniciou uma campanha contra Sheeran para que ele fosse retirado ou os shows não pudessem acontecer.

Kraft also spoke out to defend his actions, before Sheeran claimed that he was “not complicit” or responsible for the decision, adding that he had spent the past week “trying to build bridges, to find a solution” but was “unable to do so”.

Now, a number of other support acts have also pulled out in solidarity with Macklemore and the people of Palestine.

Finneas, irmão de Billie Eilish e colaborador musical e defensor vocal do povo da Palestina, estava previsto para fazer turnê com Sheeran na América do Sul ainda este ano, mas agora se retirou do roteiro.

Meanwhile, Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga along with the Danish band Lukas Graham have also made a stand. Rowe was one of Macklemore’s replacements for Sheeran’s remaining US dates, while Beoga was serving as Sheeran’s touring band having collaborated with him on ‘Galway Girl’ and ‘Nancy Mulligan’ from ‘÷’.

Eu não posso ficar de braços cruzados e permitir que bilionários usem sua posição de poder para silenciar as vozes legítimas daqueles que se manifestam contra o genocídio israelense e que destacam o sangrento assassinato de crianças.

I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal.”.

Lukas Graham, thanked Sheeran for the opportunity but added that: “Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation.

Check out their messages in full below.

Sheeran is yet to respond to his support acts pulling out.

Speaking from the stage at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore told the crowd that he wanted those in Gaza and the West Bank to know “they have not been forgotten”, adding: “I believe that every human being walking on this earth deserves exactly the same freedom.”.

After his exit from the tour, he told his fans: “In this moment I think it matters. I am not a victim. Ed Sheeran is not a victim. Pink is not a victim. We have careers, money, opportunities, safety and audiences around the world.

Whatever consequences any of us face for what we say, we get to go home to our families.

Kraft respondeu à notícia em uma declaração longa confirmando sua participação na remoção de Macklemore, compartilhando que o local “does not provide a platform for hate speech.”.

He added: “I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same – peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate.”.

Palestinian campaign groups have also been calling for fans to boycott and for the tour to be cancelled.

A voz definidora do mundo em música e cultura pop: revelando o que há de novo e o que vem por aí desde 1952.

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