Ed Sheeran’s support acts all withdraw from tour after Macklemore’s removal

All of Ed Sheeran‘s remaining support acts have dropped out of his tour amid growing criticism after Macklemore was removed from the bill for comments he made on the tour stage in support of a Palestinian state. Finneas, who was scheduled to open for Sheeran in November on the South American leg of the Shape of You singer’s Loop Tour, pulled out Tuesday, writing in an Instagram post, “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.” Story continues below advertisement He withdrew hours after Sheeran posted a lengthy statement on Instagram, citing pressure from concert venues to remove Macklemore from the tour after he said “free Palestine” on stage at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sept. 4, and that the people of Gaza and the “occupied West Bank” had not been forgotten, before performing his song Hind’s Hall, about pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Columbia.Sheeran said the tour promoter, not he, made the decision to remove the Grammy-winning artist, and that he had spoken with billionaire businessman and owner of Gillette Stadium, Robert Kraft, among o...