Ed Sheeran‘s guitar looper could get a major workout this fall when the pop star closes his North American tour in Tampa.
On Tuesday, the remaining supporting acts — and backing band — on Sheeran’s “Loop” tour dropped out, following the ouster of touring opener Macklemore, who uttered the phrase “Free Palestine” from the stage this month during shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Irish songwriter Aaron Rowe, who was supposed to play Tampa, dropped off the tour Tuesday in solidarity, adding that while Sheeran is his friend for life, Irish people “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,” Rowe added. “I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal. I need to be true to myself and my ancestors who resisted colonisation, and fought for a freedom that I enjoy today in Ireland.”
The 24-year-old closed his statement with two words: “Free Palestine.”
Irish folk band Beoga, which was backing Sheeran on the tour, also dropped off the bill Tuesday, thanking Sheeran for 10 years of friendship, while standing against “the silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies.”
Danish songwriter Lukas Graham, another Sheeran opener scheduled for the Tampa show, also dropped off the tour Tuesday saying artists should “be able to speak about war, about civilians being killed, about children who deserve to grow up.”
Macklemore was scheduled to open the remaining dates on the North American leg of Sheeran’s tour, which includes a Tampa concert on Nov. 7, the North American tour finale. But tour promoter Messina Group dropped him, saying stadium operators — including those at the publicly-funded Raymond James Stadium — wouldn’t allow the Seattle-rapper to play.
Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, reportedly led the charge to have Macklemore banned from Gillette Stadium where Sheeran’s tour is scheduled for two shows.
“Research shows how much Robert Kraft has done to fight the BDS movement,” Bodega wrote, referencing the global “Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions” effort to put economic and political pressure on the Israeli government.
Sheeran also performed at Kraft’s 2022 wedding.
In a statement about the Macklemore debacle, Sheeran referenced talking to Kraft about the rapper, and added that, “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine.”
Sheeran also defended his choice to remain politically neutral, saying that not speaking publicly about the “devastating conflict” doesn’t mean he doesn’t care.
“I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary,” Sheeran added, “to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed. If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change.”
One organization organizing the BDS campaign has called on Sheeran to cancel his tour completely.
“Ed Sheeran’s misleading statement attempts to ‘both-sides’ Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and claims to support “peace” yet fails to even mention its crucial condition —justice,” The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), wrote.
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, had been using his protest song “Hind’s Hall” to show concertgoers images of the total devastation of Gaza, where the Israeli government’s response to an Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack has killed nearly 75,000 people, according to the BBC.
Billie Eilish’s brother Finneas, who was supposed to play South America with Sheeran, dropped off the tour, too.
On Monday, Bobby Silvest, Tampa Sports Authority Vice President of Marketing and Communications, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay in an email that Macklemore is no longer on the roster for the upcoming show. “We can confirm Macklemore will not be performing at the upcoming show. Apart from this lineup change, the concert will go forward as planned,” said Silvest.
This story first appeared in Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
