Ed Sheeran says dropping American rapper Macklemore from his US concert tour was not his decision but that of the tour's promoter.
Macklemore was dropped from Sheeran's US tour after his pro-Palestinian comments and "Free Palestine" remarks during a September 4 concert in New Jersey.
Sheeran said in a social media post that he “spoke with (tour) venues at length all week to try to build a bridge,” but that “the venue's and promoter's decision was final.”
"Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine," he said on Instagram.
Messina Touring Group, promoter of the US leg of Sheeran's Loop Tour, told Rolling Stone that venue owners on upcoming US tour dates notified the promoters they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore in the line-up.
Macklemore has long been pro-Palestinian and critical of Israel's military campaign in Gaza and its occupation of the West Bank.
Hours after Sheeran posted on social media about Macklemore's ouster, Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, the Danish band Lukas Graham, and Finneas announced they would withdraw from Sheeran’s tour.
Rowe was one of Macklemore’s replacements for Sheeran’s remaining US dates, while Beoga was serving as Sheeran’s touring band. Finneas, who is Billie Eilish’s brother and musical collaborator, was due to tour with Sheeran in South America later this year.
Rowe and Beoga each cited their country’s history in their statements explaining their decision.
“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,” Beoga said.
Rowe called Sheeran a friend and said he’d changed his life.
"But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation,” he said, saying he could not “stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up.”
Finneas, who has publicly advocated for Palestinians in the past, reiterated his support.
“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” he wrote.
Lukas Graham, meanwhile, expressed gratitude toward Sheeran and called it “a difficult decision.”
“Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation. Nobody’s bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we’re allowed to acknowledge,” the band posted, seemingly referring to billionaire Robert Kraft’s role in Macklemore’s removal from the tour.
Macklemore received support from pro-Palestinian advocacy groups, artists and politicians, who say his remarks at concerts bring attention to Palestinian plight and suffering.
Pro-Israeli groups and US singer Pink, who is Jewish, have criticised him, saying such comments at a concert risk compromising the safety of Jewish and pro-Israeli people at such events.
They also point to a 2014 costume that Macklemore wore, which included a black wig, beard and a fake hooked nose, which critics said tapped into anti-Semitic stereotypes. Macklemore subsequently apologised for that costume.
On Monday, Macklemore denied his concert comments were anti-Semitic, saying conflating anti-Semitism with criticism of Israel's actions aims to avoid Israeli accountability.
with Reuters
