Event
Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Beoga withdrew from Ed Sheeran’s upcoming US tour after promoter Messina Touring Group removed Macklemore from the line-up following his pro-Palestinian remarks on stage. Sheeran said the decision was made by the promoter, not him.
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Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Beoga have withdrawn from Ed Sheeran’s US tour after promoter Messina Touring Group removed Macklemore from the line-up over his pro-Palestinian remarks.
Background
Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s upcoming US tour after saying “Free Palestine” at a 4 September concert in New Jersey and performing “Hind’s Hall” with footage depicting devastation in Gaza. Messina Touring Group said venues would not allow him to perform. Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Beoga subsequently withdrew. Sheeran said the removal was the promoter’s decision, not his, and that he had sought to “build a bridge” while keeping his professional platform politically neutral.
Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s upcoming US tour after saying “Free Palestine” at a 4 September concert in New Jersey and performing “Hind’s Hall” with footage depicting devastation in Gaza. Messina Touring Group said venues would not allow him to perform. Finneas, Aaron
Fact cards
Key entities: Ed Sheeran, Macklemore, Messina Touring Group, Robert Kraft.
Why was Macklemore removed from the tour? The promoter said venues would not allow him to perform after his pro-Palestinian remarks. What did Macklemore say or perform? He said “Free Palestine” and performed “Hind’s Hall” with footage depicting devastation in Gaza. Did Ed Sheeran
BBC World | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3vgyn49y4l7o | published 2026-09-15T21:07:13.000Z | primary source | BBC World | Primary supplied report covering the withdrawals, tour decision and statements by the artists, Sheeran, Macklemore, Kraft and promoter. | France 24 In
2026-09-04: Macklemore says “Free Palestine” at a concert in New Jersey and performs “Hind’s Hall” with Gaza-related footage. Approx. September 2026: The Israeli American Council and StopAntisemitism criticise the performance; venue owner Robert Kraft says his venue will not prov
Timeline
Macklemore says “Free Palestine” at a concert in New Jersey and performs “Hind’s Hall” with Gaza-related footage.
The Israeli American Council and StopAntisemitism criticise the performance; venue owner Robert Kraft says his venue will not provide Macklemore a platform.
Messina Touring Group removes Macklemore from Sheeran’s US tour, citing venue objections.
Macklemore criticises Sheeran for not taking a public stance.
Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Beoga announce their withdrawals from the tour.
FAQ
The promoter said venues would not allow him to perform after his pro-Palestinian remarks.
He said “Free Palestine” and performed “Hind’s Hall” with footage depicting devastation in Gaza.
Sheeran said the decision was made by promoter Messina Touring Group, not him.
Several cited the dispute over Macklemore’s removal, but the supplied material does not fully detail each reason.
He was scheduled to perform at eight of Sheeran’s 10 remaining US shows.
He has criticised Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank.
Not publicly at the time of reporting.
Robert Kraft said Macklemore’s comments crossed a line; Macklemore denied being antisemitic.