Every Opening Act Quits Sheeran Tour Over Macklemore
Every Opening Act Quits Sheeran Tour Over Macklemore
The News
Every opening act on Ed Sheeran's US Loop Tour has quit after rapper Macklemore was dropped from the bill over pro-Palestinian comments he made onstage at a tour stop in New Jersey.
Breitbart News reported that the artist Finneas and three other supporting acts — including Lukas Graham — announced they were leaving the tour on Tuesday.
A spokesman confirmed to 11Alive that Macklemore will no longer perform with Sheeran at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Sheeran has defended the decision, saying he wants to keep politics out of his shows, according to The Daily Beast. Macklemore has hit back.
Timeline
Macklemore makes pro-Palestinian comments, including a "Free Palestine" speech, during a Loop Tour stop in New Jersey, 11Alive and the New York Post report.
Macklemore is removed from the tour. A spokesman confirms he is off the Mercedes-Benz Stadium date.
Finneas and three other supporting acts announce they have quit the tour, Breitbart News reports, leaving Sheeran with no opening acts.
Sheeran publicly defends keeping politics off his stage; Macklemore responds; celebrities and fans pile in on both sides.
Reactions
Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters called Sheeran a "prick" for removing Macklemore from the tour, TMZ reported.
USA Today reported that actress Hannah Einbinder, singer Kehlani and Waters were among the celebrities publicly backing Macklemore after his removal.
Some Sheeran fans are asking for their money back, the New York Post reported, saying they want to skip the tour and get refunds in solidarity with Macklemore.
Other fans are defending Sheeran. The Daily Mail reported that fans vowed to keep supporting him and argued he "shouldn't be blamed" for the walkout.
What's Next
Sheeran's remaining US dates, including the Mercedes-Benz Stadium show in Atlanta, are now without the advertised support acts, and neither Sheeran's camp nor the departed artists have announced replacements.
Whether ticketholders demanding refunds get them is up to Sheeran's promoters and ticket sellers, who have not publicly ruled on the requests.
More
The fight split coverage along familiar lines. Right-leaning outlets framed the exodus as backlash to anti-Israel comments; left-leaning and entertainment outlets framed it as a tour thrown into chaos by a decision to punish an artist for speaking about Gaza.
Poll
Was Ed Sheeran right to drop Macklemore from the tour?
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