Ed Sheeran says promoter axed Macklemore, support acts quit

UPDATE - follow-up to All support acts on Ed Sheeran's US tour quit after Macklemore dropped: Ed Sheeran clarified on Tuesday that the decision to remove rapper Macklemore from his upcoming US tour dates was made by the concert promoter, not by the singer himself. Macklemore had been dropped after he delivered pro‑Palestinian remarks on stage during a recent performance. In the wake of that removal, every remaining opening act announced they would leave the tour. Finneas, brother of Billie Eilish, issued a statement urging that "Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed." Irish singer‑songwriter Aaron Rowe also said he would no longer perform on the tour. Danish pop group Lukas Graham confirmed its departure as well. Irish folk band Beoga, which often joins Sheeran on stage, likewise declared it was pulling out. The collective walk‑out underscores tension over political speech at live shows and puts pressure on the tour’s organisers to address artist concerns.