Supporting acts on Ed Sheeran US tour quit after rapper removed for pro-Palestine remarks

The removal of rapper Macklemore from pop singer Ed Sheeran’s United States tour after he made pro-Palestine comments has sparked a furore, with the British singer’s supporting acts and backing band also quitting the tour in solidarity.

Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, had been the opening act for Sheeran’s North American Loop tour. He had faced criticism from Jewish groups for saying “Free Palestine” and making political speeches at two concerts, the BBC reported.

Sheeran, in a social media post, attributed the decision to drop Macklemore to the promoters of the tour. “After Macklemore’s performances at my New Jersey shows, venues on my upcoming tour dates communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting,” he said.

Sheeran enjoys a large fan following in India and has performed in the country ten times across four separate visits.