{
  "id": 7676506,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T01:16:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/ed-sheeran-tour-finneas-opening-acts-drop-out-macklemore-6387096"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ed Sheeran's North and South American tour was thrown into disarray on Tuesday (Sep 15) after four opening acts abruptly withdrew from the tour, siding with rapper Macklemore in his dispute with tour promoters. The pop sensation shared on social media that Macklemore was dropped from the Loop Tour due to his pro-Palestinian remarks during a Sep 5 performance in New Jersey, and the promoter Robert Kraft pulled him from the remaining US dates. Four of Sheeran's supporting acts - Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, Danish band Lukas Graham, and American musician Finneas - followed suit, citing their opposition to \"silencing voices of those who speak up\". Rowe, speaking on Instagram, expressed solidarity with the Palestinian cause, stating that the Irish band's decision stemmed from their country's history of colonialism and violent occupation. Lukas Graham voiced gratitude towards Sheeran but emphasized that \"money doesn't give you the right to own the conversation\". Finneas, brother of singer Billie Eilish, cited his stance on standing with Palestine and its people. The tour's promoter, Messina Touring Group, has yet to comment on the artists' actions.",
  "summary": "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 Danish band Lukas Graham, and Finneas posted on Instagram that they were leaving the tour.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "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",
        "published": "2026-09-15T23:17:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "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": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun",
        "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-7687776",
        "published": "2026-09-16T02:39:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "All support acts on Ed Sheeran’s US tour quit after Macklemore dropped",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/all-support-acts-on-ed-sheerans-us-tour-quit-after-macklemore-dropped",
        "published": "2026-09-16T02:51:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran says it wasn’t his call to drop Macklemore over ‘Free Palestine’ remarks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/ed-sheeran-says-it-wasnt-his-call-to-drop-macklemore-over-free",
        "published": "2026-09-16T03:30:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}