Finneas has withdrawn from Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour in response to the removal of fellow performer Macklemore, who was dismissed after voicing support for Palestine during recent New Jersey concerts. The production musician joined several other artists, including Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and Irish band Beoga, in leaving the tour dates scheduled for South America in late November and early December.
In a statement posted on social media, Finneas expressed his conviction that artists should not face silencing for advocating on behalf of marginalized groups. “I stand with Palestine and its people,” he wrote, emphasizing that performers must retain the freedom to speak for the oppressed. His announcement followed similar declarations from the other departing acts, each citing their moral opposition to what they characterized as censorship of political speech.
The coordinated departures have left the tour without any supporting artists. Macklemore attributed his removal to billionaire Robert Kraft, claiming the stadium owner leveraged his influence to orchestrate the dismissal. Ed Sheeran subsequently clarified that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by promoters rather than himself, adding that he had attempted to intervene on the artist’s behalf.
Originally reported by Variety →
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