Ed Sheeran tour in trouble as support acts quit over pro-Palestinian speech fallout

Ed Sheeran’s tour of North and South America was plunged into chaos Tuesday when four of his supporting acts abruptly quit in solidarity with the rapper Macklemore, who was dropped for making pro-Palestinian comments on stage.

Hours after Sheeran posted on social media about Macklemore’s ousting and attributed the decision to the tour’s promoters, Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, the Danish band Lukas Graham, and Finneas posted on social media that they were leaving the tour.

Rowe and Lukas Graham would have been replacements for Macklemore on Sheeran’s remaining US dates, while Beoga had been performing several songs – including some the Irish folk band co-wrote – with Sheeran around the middle of each set.

Finneas, who is Billie Eilish’s brother and musical collaborator, was due to tour with Sheeran in South America later this year.