The fallout from Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran's US tour continues to escalate, with a growing number of musicians and public figures taking sides. The controversy began after Macklemore made pro-Palestinian comments during a concert at MetLife Stadium on 4 September, prompting the Israeli American Council to launch a petition for his removal. Sheeran subsequently dropped the rapper from the line-up, a decision that has triggered a cascade of resignations from other support acts and sharp criticism from prominent voices.
Support acts walk out
Among those who have withdrawn are Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, Irish folk band Beoga, Danish band Lukas Graham, and Finneas, the brother of pop star Billie Eilish. Rowe, who described Sheeran as a friend, explained his decision in stark terms: "as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation." He added that he could not "stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide."
Beoga, who had worked with Sheeran for over a decade, said they would no longer be part of his band "following the silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies." They stressed that while their friendship with Sheeran remains, "to play in venues that silence anyone advocating for Free Palestine is simply not an option for us." Finneas, who was scheduled to join Sheeran in South America, wrote on Instagram: "Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people."
Sheeran's response and the backlash
Sheeran has denied responsibility for Macklemore's removal, claiming that venue owners threatened to cancel the entire tour unless the rapper was dropped. He said he would not abandon fans or crew, but his attempts at damage control have largely backfired. Critics have accused him of hypocrisy, pointing to his previous fundraising and campaigning for Ukraine. As one social media user put it, his stance appears "morally bankrupt," while others have labelled him a "lowlife coward."
The criticism has come from across the music industry. Irish band Kneecap expressed solidarity with Macklemore, while singer CMAT posted images of the Palestinian flag. Zara Larsson, Paloma Faith, and rock band Garbage also weighed in, with Garbage calling the removal "sheer madness" and noting that "nothing Macklemore actually said was violent or hateful or remotely radical." Children's educator Rachel Accurso highlighted the contrast between Sheeran's support for Ukraine and his silence on Palestinian suffering, asking: "Imagine being a Palestinian kid and seeing he did a concert for Ukraine but when over 20,000 Palestinian children are killed he’s silent."
Roger Waters' message
The most scathing rebuke came from former Pink Floyd member Roger Waters, who shared a video addressed to Sheeran. In the clip, Waters said: "There are two kinds of people in this world. There’s people who do the right thing – the rapper Macklemore would be one of those people. And there’s people – many of them, sadly – little pricks like you who do the wrong thing." The video included images of UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese and a tearful woman from Gaza.
Political dimension
The controversy has also drawn political reactions. US congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez framed the episode as a broader issue of power, suggesting that "a handful of stadium owners and the elite can prevent an entire massive issue" from being discussed. Meanwhile, UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy expressed sympathy for Sheeran, saying he had been left in an "impossible position."
This incident highlights the growing pressure on artists to take public stances on the Gaza conflict, and the consequences when they try to remain neutral. As the tour continues, the question of whether Sheeran can repair his reputation among fellow musicians and fans remains open.
