{
  "id": 7652513,
  "title": "Ed Sheeran's supporting acts quit after Macklemore is kicked off tour for pro-Palestinian stance",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheerans-supporting-acts-quit-after-macklemore-is-kicked-off-tour",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T23:17:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20260916/ed-sheerans-supporting-acts-quit-after-macklemore-is-kicked-off-tour-for-pro-palestinian-stance"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Tuesday, Ed Sheeran's North and South American tour descended into turmoil as four of his supporting acts abruptly resigned in support of rapper Macklemore, who was dismissed for delivering pro-Palestinian remarks during a live performance. Shortly after Sheeran shared his thoughts on social media regarding Macklemore's dismissal, citing the tour organizers' decision, Irish musicians Aaron Rowe and Beoga, Danish group Lukas Graham, and Brooklyn-based producer Finneas announced their departure from the show via Instagram. Rowe and Lukas Graham were originally scheduled to fill in for Macklemore's performances on the remainder of their U.S. dates, while Beoga was due to perform several songs, some co-written by the Irish folk act, during Sheeran's shows. Finneas, brother of the acclaimed musician Billie Eilish, expressed his solidarity with Palestine and its populace on Instagram, stating, \"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.\" The subsequent pressure on the tour intensified as the artists continued to voice their disapproval of Macklemore's stance.",
  "summary": "NEW YORK — 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 onstage. Hours after Sheeran posted on social media about Macklemore's ouster and attributed the decision to the tour's promoters, Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CityNews",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran says dropping Macklemore over rapper’s pro-Palestinian comments was ‘promoter’s decision’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheeran-says-dropping-macklemore-over-rappers-pro-palestinian-7603204",
        "published": "2026-09-15T17:16:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran says dropping Macklemore over rapper’s pro-Palestinian comments was ‘promoter’s decision’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheeran-says-dropping-macklemore-over-rappers-pro-palestinian",
        "published": "2026-09-15T17:16:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran's supporting acts quit after Macklemore is kicked off tour for pro-Palestinian stance",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheerans-supporting-acts-quit-after-macklemore-is-kicked-off-tour-7654666",
        "published": "2026-09-15T23:27:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran's tour in jeopardy after opening acts all quit in support of Macklemore",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheerans-tour-in-jeopardy-after-opening-acts-all-quit-in-support",
        "published": "2026-09-15T23:42:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran tour exodus: Finneas and three more acts quit after Macklemore axing over pro-Palestine remarks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/ed-sheeran-tour-exodus-finneas-and-three-more-acts-quit-after",
        "published": "2026-09-16T01:03:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran's tour in trouble after opening acts drop out in solidarity with rapper Macklemore",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/ed-sheerans-tour-in-trouble-after-opening-acts-drop-out-in-solidarity",
        "published": "2026-09-16T01:16:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}