Three Openers Withdraw From Sheeran Tour Over Palestine

Finneas, Aaron Rowe and Irish band Beoga have withdrawn from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour, citing solidarity with Palestinians and opposition to artists being silenced. Their departures follow Macklemore’s claim that he was removed from the tour after making pro-Palestinian statements, including calls to “Free Palestine”; Sheeran has said the decision was made by the promoter rather than by him. Artists for Palestine UK and the Palestinian-led BDS movement are urging Sheeran to cancel the remaining tour, while accusing wealthy pro-Israel figures connected to tour venues of pressuring artists. The controversy has intensified scrutiny of Sheeran’s past performance at Robert Kraft’s wedding, though social-media criticism of that appearance does not establish his position on the Israel-Palestine conflict.