The fallout from Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour has escalated dramatically.

Finneas, Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham have all withdrawn from their upcoming appearances on Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore, while Irish folk group Beoga—who had been performing as part of Sheeran’s live show—also announced they were leaving.

The departures came Tuesday, Sept. 15, only hours after Sheeran publicly addressed Macklemore’s removal and insisted that the decision to drop the Seattle rapper from the remaining U.S. dates “was not mine.”

Instead of settling the controversy, Sheeran’s statement was followed by another wave of departures.

By the end of the day, the remaining announced opening acts for the upcoming legs of the Loop Tour had pulled out.

Finneas Pulls Out

Finneas, the Grammy- and Oscar-winning artist and producer best known for his work with his sister Billie Eilish, had been scheduled to join Sheeran for dates on the South American portion of the tour later this year.

He announced Tuesday that he would no longer participate.

“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” Finneas wrote in announcing his withdrawal.

“I stand with Palestine and its people.”

His departure carried particular weight because Finneas was not part of the immediate dispute surrounding Macklemore’s performances in New Jersey. He was scheduled for a later portion of the tour but nevertheless chose to remove himself after Macklemore was dropped.

Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham Also Walk

Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe also withdrew.

Rowe had been scheduled to perform on upcoming U.S. dates and cited Ireland’s history while explaining why he would not continue with the tour. He concluded his statement with “Free Palestine.”

Lukas Graham followed.

The Danish group said people should be able to speak about war, civilian deaths and children caught in conflict regardless of where those victims live.

“Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation,” the group wrote while announcing its departure.

The withdrawals were especially significant because Rowe and Lukas Graham had been positioned to help fill the support schedule following Macklemore’s removal.

Instead, they joined him on the sidelines.

Then Beoga Left

The upheaval wasn't limited to opening acts.

Beoga, the Irish folk group that has a long history of collaborating with Sheeran and had been performing during his Loop Tour set, announced that it was leaving as well.

Beoga had been appearing during the middle of Sheeran’s concerts and performing songs the group helped create with him, making its withdrawal different from an opening act simply canceling a scheduled set.

The group said its decision was connected to Macklemore’s removal and its support for Palestinian advocacy.

Beoga’s exit meant the controversy had now reached inside Sheeran’s own stage production.

It Happened Hours After Sheeran Broke His Silence

The timing made the departures even more striking.

Earlier Tuesday, Sheeran released his first detailed statement about Macklemore being removed from the tour.

Sheeran said Macklemore’s contract was with promoter Messina Touring Group rather than with him personally and maintained that the final decision belonged to the promoter and venues.

“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” Sheeran wrote.

Sheeran said venues had warned that upcoming concerts could be pulled if Macklemore remained on the lineup. He also said he spent the week attempting to “build a bridge” between the different parties but could not reach a solution.

Sheeran defended his decision to generally keep politics outside his concerts while simultaneously saying he respected Macklemore’s willingness to publicly stand behind his beliefs.

But within hours of that explanation, several of the artists working alongside Sheeran made clear that they were taking a different approach.

They left.

Macklemore’s Removal Triggered the Chain Reaction

The controversy began after Macklemore used his opening set at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to speak in support of Palestinians.

Before performing his protest song “Hind’s Hall,” Macklemore declared “Free Palestine.”

His comments generated both support and backlash. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium, later objected to Macklemore appearing at the Massachusetts venue, citing what Kraft described as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.

Macklemore has rejected the characterization of his advocacy as antisemitic, arguing that criticism of Israel and Zionism should not be conflated with hatred of Jewish people.

On Sept. 14, Messina Touring Group announced that Macklemore would no longer perform on the remaining U.S. dates.

The promoter said venues had informed the company that concerts would not be allowed to proceed with Macklemore on the lineup, potentially threatening shows involving hundreds of thousands of ticket holders.

One day later, the fallout spread across the rest of the tour.

The Loop Tour Is Suddenly Without Its Announced Support Lineup

The departures don't mean Sheeran’s remaining concerts have been canceled.

But they create an immediate logistical problem.

Macklemore was scheduled for eight of Sheeran’s remaining 10 U.S. stadium concerts. Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham were among the artists expected to cover upcoming support slots, while Finneas was scheduled for the later South American leg. Beoga, meanwhile, had been appearing during Sheeran’s own performance.

All four are now out.

That leaves Sheeran and promoter Messina Touring Group facing the question of whether replacement artists will be booked, whether Sheeran will perform altered shows without opening acts, and how Beoga’s departure will affect the main set.

As of the wave of announcements Tuesday, no replacement lineup had been announced.

The Loop Tour itself remained scheduled to continue, with the next U.S. stadium performance set for Philadelphia.

But in roughly 48 hours, the controversy had moved far beyond one rapper being removed from a tour.

First Macklemore was dropped.

Then Sheeran publicly distanced himself from the decision.

Then the artists who were supposed to keep the tour moving began walking away themselves.

By Tuesday night, Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Beoga had all chosen solidarity with Macklemore over continuing their scheduled involvement with one of the biggest stadium tours in the world.