After Macklemore’s forced departure from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour, Finneas, Lukas Graham, Beoga, and Aaron Rowe have also pulled out.
The first was Aaron Rowe, an Irish Singer-Songwriter. He broke the news of his withdrawal from the tour with a post on Instagram, stating: “I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide.”
Then Finneas, a Singer, songwriter, and producer, followed in dropping out. He was slated to open for Ed Sheeran in the South American leg of the Loop Tour. Saying, “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.”
Then Lukas Graham followed, along with Sheeran’s long-time Irish-folk band Beoga. It’s safe to say that Ed Sheeran’s Tour is currently in shambles. Not only have all his opening acts pulled out, but he’s also facing massive waves of online backlash.
Ed’s apolitical stance is being tested heavily. But this time it’s showing its true colors of hypocrisy. In 2022, the very apolitical Ed Sheeran headlined a concert for Ukraine. Stating, “To all Ukrainians, I love you, I stand with you.” So, standing with Ukraine isn’t a political stance, but speaking out against an ongoing genocide is?
Let’s face it, Ed Sheeran is a coward. He states on his Instagram, “I am not complicit. I have my own personal views on this devastating conflict.” Except he is complicit in his silence. He saw backlash from venues, panicked, and dropped Macklemore. What’s baffling is that Ed Sheeran is one of the biggest and most successful artists in the world.
The Loop Tour is a stadium tour. Not many artists have that kind of pull. Yet Ed has chosen to stay silent when his own well-being is at stake. Not only that, he has decided not to act when the one person who was speaking up was silenced. He has proved yet again that silence in the face of injustice is complicity. And that staying “apolitical” in the face of a genocide lands you on the wrong side of history.
