Ed Sheeran’s Tour Loses His Own Backing Band And Support Acts After Macklemore Removal — Beoga Says Playing Venues That ‘Silence’ Pro-Palestinian Voices Is ‘Not An Option’
The fallout surrounding Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour has escalated dramatically.
Days after Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates following controversy over his pro-Palestinian comments onstage, Sheeran’s own touring collaborators Beoga have withdrawn — alongside other artists booked to support the tour.
The departure of Beoga is particularly significant.
The traditional Irish folk band isn’t simply another opening act. The group has known Sheeran for more than a decade, collaborated with him on his 2017 album ÷ (Divide) and “Galway Girl,” and had been joining him during his own set on the current tour.
Beoga made clear that its friendship with Sheeran remains intact.
But the musicians said continuing under the present circumstances was something they could not accept.
“We have been friends with Ed for over 10 years now and will continue to be,” the band said.
Then came the line explaining why they were walking away:
“To play in venues that silence anyone advocating for a Free Palestine is simply not an option for us.”
Beoga Walks Away From A Stadium Opportunity
For Beoga, performing alongside Sheeran meant reaching audiences on a scale the group never expected.
The musicians acknowledged exactly what they were giving up.
“We are a traditional Irish band who never saw ourselves playing in stadiums of that size and that opportunity is not lost on us,” they said.
The band also said it believes “in dialogue as a means of progressing the plight of the Palestinian people.”
Playing night after night before stadium crowds had been “the stuff of dreams,” according to Beoga.
But the group decided the circumstances surrounding Macklemore’s removal outweighed that opportunity.
The withdrawal adds another complication to a tour that has become engulfed in controversy in a matter of days.
The Dispute Began After Macklemore’s New Jersey Performances
The controversy intensified following Macklemore’s appearances opening for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sept. 4 and 5.
During his performances, the rapper delivered remarks supporting Palestinians, called for a “free Palestine,” referenced the West Bank and criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The remarks prompted objections from some organizations and venue operators.
The Israeli American Council subsequently launched a petition calling for Macklemore’s removal from Sheeran’s lineup.
One of the most prominent figures involved was New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, where Sheeran is scheduled to perform.
Kraft later confirmed that Macklemore would not be permitted to perform at his venue.
Robert Kraft Explains His Decision
In a statement, Kraft said Gillette Stadium had a longstanding commitment to maintaining what he described as a welcoming environment and not providing a platform for hate speech.
He cited what he characterized as Macklemore’s “recent actions,” material presented during Sheeran’s New Jersey concerts and what Kraft called “a broader history of anti-Semitic rhetoric and imagery.”
Kraft said he believed those things had been “deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.”
Those descriptions reflect Kraft’s stated reasons for barring Macklemore from Gillette Stadium.
Macklemore has disputed characterizations of his advocacy as antisemitic, arguing that criticism of the Israeli government and support for Palestinians should not be equated with hatred of Jewish people.
The Promoter Removed Macklemore From The Remaining U.S. Dates
The situation expanded beyond Gillette Stadium.
Messina Touring Group, promoter of the U.S. leg of Sheeran’s Loop Tour, said it had been informed by venues on upcoming dates that concerts would not be allowed to proceed with Macklemore remaining on the lineup.
According to the promoter, that raised the possibility of cancellations affecting hundreds of thousands of ticket holders.
Following discussions with the parties involved, Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. support dates.
Macklemore subsequently claimed Kraft had helped rally other stadium owners against his continued participation.
Kraft confirmed his own decision regarding Gillette Stadium but did not address Macklemore’s claim that he had coordinated pressure from other venue owners.
Macklemore Says He Is ‘Not The Victim’
After his removal, Macklemore issued a lengthy statement addressing the controversy.
Rather than presenting himself as the person most harmed by the dispute, the rapper said the consequences faced by successful musicians should not overshadow civilians affected by the conflict.
“We have careers, money, opportunities, safety and audiences around the world,” he wrote.
“Whatever consequences any of us face for what we say, we get to go home to our families.”
Macklemore then said that, in his view, Palestinians experiencing death, hunger, displacement and violence were the victims.
His comments came as debate intensified around both his original statements and the decision to remove him from the tour.
Ed Sheeran Says It Wasn’t His Decision
Sheeran eventually addressed the growing controversy himself.
The singer said he was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine” and emphasized that he respects Macklemore as an artist.
He also said he does not dictate what his support acts say during their performances.
Most importantly, Sheeran rejected the suggestion that he personally decided to remove Macklemore.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, not mine,” he said.
Sheeran explained that the contractual decision ultimately belonged to the promoter after venues objected to Macklemore remaining on the lineup.
He also said he had spent days attempting to find another solution.
“I have spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution and unfortunately, was unable to do so.”
Sheeran Says He Wouldn’t Abandon Fans Or His Touring Crew
Sheeran also explained why he had chosen to continue with the concerts rather than cancel the tour himself.
“I would never let down the fans who had made plans,” he said.
He also pointed to the many crew members, musicians and other people whose livelihoods depend on the shows continuing.
Sheeran said he would not abandon “the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.”
The singer concluded by defending his personal values.
“I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.”
But while Sheeran intends to continue performing, several of the musicians originally scheduled around him have now made different decisions.
Lukas Graham And Aaron Rowe Also Withdraw
Danish group Lukas Graham announced it would no longer perform on the remaining U.S. dates.
The group said people should be able to speak about war and civilian suffering regardless of where those civilians live.
Lukas Graham also stressed that its relationship with Sheeran had not changed, expressing gratitude for their experiences together while saying continuing with the tour under the current circumstances was not something the group could do.
Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe also withdrew.
Rowe said he did not make the decision lightly and thanked Sheeran for his friendship and the opportunities he had provided.
However, Rowe said he felt he needed to act consistently with his own beliefs and Irish heritage.
Finneas Pulls Out Of Upcoming South American Dates
Finneas has also stepped away, although his scheduled appearances were for the forthcoming South American portion of the Loop Tour rather than the remaining U.S. dates.
He announced that he would no longer open for Sheeran on those shows.
“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” Finneas wrote while announcing his decision.
He also expressed his support for Palestinians.
Taken together, the departures mean the controversy has spread beyond the immediate question of whether Macklemore would appear at several American stadiums.
It is now reshaping the wider touring lineup.
Beoga’s Exit Hits Particularly Close To Sheeran
Of all the withdrawals, Beoga’s may feel the most personal because of the group’s longstanding musical relationship with Sheeran.
Their history stretches back more than a decade.
They collaborated during one of the biggest periods of Sheeran’s career and helped bring an Irish folk influence to songs including “Galway Girl.”
On the current tour, they weren’t merely warming up the audience before Sheeran appeared.
They were performing with him.
Yet Beoga’s statement carefully separated its disagreement with the situation from its relationship with Sheeran.
“We have been friends with Ed for over 10 years now and will continue to be,” the musicians stressed.
Their decision was directed instead at performing in venues they believe had restricted advocacy for Palestinians.
The Loop Tour Is Still Scheduled To Continue
Despite the upheaval surrounding its lineup, Sheeran has not announced plans to abandon the U.S. tour.
At the time of the latest reporting, the Loop Tour is scheduled to resume Sept. 19 in Philadelphia.
Sheeran has made clear that he intends to honor commitments to ticket holders and the hundreds of people whose work depends on the production continuing.
But the lineup around him now looks markedly different.
Macklemore is out.
Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe have withdrawn from the remaining U.S. dates.
Finneas has pulled out of his scheduled South American appearances.
And Beoga — Sheeran’s longtime friends and collaborators who had been joining him onstage — has walked away as well.
What began with a two-minute political statement during an opening set has developed into a dispute involving artists, promoters and stadium owners, with sharply conflicting views over political expression and the responsibilities of venues.
Sheeran says he spent the week trying to find a compromise.
His fellow musicians are now making their own choices.
And with the next concert approaching, the Loop Tour is moving forward without much of the supporting lineup that was supposed to be there.