Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour Loses Every Single Opening Act Over Macklemore Fallout
One Dropped Act Triggers a Chain Reaction
Macklemore was pulled as an opening act on Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour after making pro-Palestinian statements onstage, a move Sheeran has said was the promoter's call rather than his own, as NPR first reported. Within days, the decision set off a walkout across the rest of the tour's support lineup.
One by one, the remaining opening acts announced they were exiting in solidarity with Macklemore rather than continue performing on the tour, leaving Sheeran without a single confirmed opener heading into his upcoming dates. The speed of the exits caught much of the touring industry off guard, turning what began as a single booking decision into a broader statement about artists' willingness to walk away from lucrative support slots over a political flashpoint.
It's an unusual position for Sheeran to find himself in. The Loop Tour has been positioned as one of the year's biggest arena and stadium runs, and losing an entire support bill days before key dates creates a logistical headache that extends well beyond who plays first each night.
Who Walked, and Why
As CBS News and The Hollywood Reporter both reported, singer-producer FINNEAS, Danish pop group Lukas Graham, singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe and Irish traditional band Beoga all confirmed they were withdrawing from the Loop Tour following Macklemore's removal.
Each cited solidarity with Macklemore's ouster as their reason for stepping aside, effectively wiping out the tour's entire supporting bill in a matter of days — an unusually unified show of pushback from a group of otherwise unrelated acts.
Quick Facts
Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour over onstage pro-Palestinian remarks
Sheeran says the decision was made by the tour's promoter, not him
FINNEAS, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga all withdrew in solidarity
The tour currently has no confirmed opening act
The fallout has been covered across US, UK, Canadian and Australian outlets
The Story Crosses Borders
The fallout hasn't stayed confined to the US. Canada's CBC picked up the walkout as it unfolded, and UK and Australian outlets have flagged the same story given Sheeran's heavy touring footprint in both markets — meaning any disruption to the Loop Tour's lineup carries real consequences well beyond American venues.
With Sheeran booked across multiple continents in the coming months, promoters now face scrambling to fill support slots on short notice at stops in the US, UK, Canada and Australia alike, all while the controversy continues to generate headlines in each region.
What Sheeran Has Said
Sheeran has addressed the controversy directly, characterizing the decision to remove Macklemore as one made by the tour's promoter rather than by him personally, according to reporting from Boston.com. The distinction hasn't stopped the exodus of support acts, but it has shaped how Sheeran is being framed in the story — as caught between a promoter's call and his openers' revolt.
Macklemore, for his part, has continued to speak publicly about the situation, with his own statements drawing additional coverage as the episode has snowballed. His comments have kept the story in the news cycle even as Sheeran's camp has tried to keep the focus on the tour itself rather than the politics surrounding it.
What Happens Next for the Tour
With no openers currently attached, Sheeran's team faces a logistical scramble to either book replacement acts or restructure upcoming shows entirely — a headache that arrives in the middle of an active touring cycle rather than during a planning window.
How quickly a new lineup materializes, and whether any of the four departed acts return once the dust settles, will likely shape coverage of the Loop Tour for weeks to come across every market it touches.
FAQs
Why was Macklemore removed from Ed Sheeran's tour?
He was dropped after making pro-Palestinian statements onstage; Sheeran has said the call came from the tour's promoter.
Which acts quit Ed Sheeran's tour in solidarity?
FINNEAS, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and the band Beoga all withdrew as opening acts following Macklemore's removal.
Does Ed Sheeran have an opener now?
As of the latest reporting, the tour has no confirmed opening act after all four support acts exited.
Is this affecting Sheeran's international tour dates?
Yes — the story and its fallout have been reported across the US, UK, Canada and Australia given how widely the Loop Tour spans those markets.
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