Ed Sheeran's Loop tour faced significant disruptions after rapper McKlammore was removed from scheduled performances in the United States. In protest, Finneas, Aaron Rou, and the group Lukas Graham refused to participate, and the Irish group Beoga, who were part of Sheeran's show, also left the tour.
British pop artist Ed Sheeran lost all the musicians who were supposed to open his upcoming concerts after rapper McKlammore was excluded from the lineup due to comments regarding Palestine. Finneas, Aaron Rou, Beoga, and Lukas Graham withdrew their participation in protest.
The conflict arose after McKlammore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, made a 'Free Palestine' statement before performing his protest song Hind's Hall about the war in Gaza during a performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month. He later announced that he had been dropped from remaining dates after several venues objected to his participation.
Finneas announced on Tuesday his withdrawal from scheduled performances, stating that he 'stands with Palestine and its people.' The Grammy winner wrote on Instagram: 'Artists should not be silenced when they stand up for the oppressed.'
Irish singer Aaron Rou followed suit, stating that he could not remain on the tour while wealthy figures silenced the voices of artists speaking out about Gaza. He added: 'Ed was my friend and changed my life; I can never be grateful to him for that,' before condemning the killing of civilians.
The Irish group Beoga and the Danish group Lukas Graham also stepped down. Lukas Graham stated: 'Money does not give you the right to own the conversation.'
McKlammore accused 85-year-old Jewish billionaire and owner of the New England Patriots, Robert Kraft, of helping force him off the tour. He claimed that Sheeran told him Kraft would not allow him to perform at Gillette Stadium, and that Sheeran secured support from other venue owners by issuing an ultimatum threatening future appearances if the rapper remained in the lineup.
Tour promoter Messina Touring Group confirmed that numerous venues declined to host concerts featuring McKlammore, warning that potential cancellations could affect 'hundreds of thousands of fans.'
Sheeran stated on Tuesday that the decision to exclude McKlammore was not his own, and that he spent a week trying to reach a compromise with venue owners, including Kraft. He said: 'I spent this week trying to build bridges, find a solution, and unfortunately, I couldn't.'
Kraft confirmed that McKlammore would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium, citing his 'recent actions' and what he termed a 'broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.' However, he denied attempts to silence support for Palestinians.
McKlammore rejected accusations that his activism was directed against Jews. At MetLife, he stated that criticizing Israel and opposing what he called genocide 'is in no way criticism of you,' describing his message as one of 'peace' and equal treatment.
The war in Gaza began with an attack led by Hamas on October 7, 2023, on Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and 251 hostages taken. According to Gaza health authorities, Israel's retaliatory campaign has resulted in the deaths of over 73,700 Palestinians. A UN commission concluded that Israel committed genocide in the Palestinian enclave, an accusation Israel rejects.