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Ed Sheeran just lost more support.
Hours after the Perfect singer released his statement on the controversy surrounding his Loop tour and Macklemore, the rest of his opening acts are quitting in solidarity with Macklemore.
Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and Beoga have all voluntarily dropped out.
(To get the backstory on how we got here, CLICK HERE.)
Billie Eilish‘s brother Finneas wasn’t scheduled to appear until the South American leg of the tour, but that’s no longer happening. The rest of the acts were part of the North American tour, which is still ongoing, so that means Ed is either gonna play alone or he’ll need to find some other acts ASAP.
In a statement posted to Instagram, Aaron Rowe thanked Ed for the opportunity, noted their friendship, but stood firm on where his principles lie, writing:
“Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this. But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation.”
He continued his statement, criticizing billionaires who “use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up” against the “savage murder of children.”
Read his statement in full (below):
Finneas posted his thoughts as well, writing:
“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.”
See for yourself (below):
Lukas Graham did the same, saying in his statement:
“It’s hard to watch families in other parts of the world burying the people they love. We should be able to speak about war, about civilians being killed, about children who deserve to grow up. Wherever they live. Whatever flag flies over them. I grew up in Christiania, a small community in Denmark where speaking your mind was part of everyday life.”
He then explicitly called out those who use their wealth to silence others:
“Having more money didn’t make your opinion worth more than anyone else’s. Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation. Nobody’s bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we’re allowed to acknowledge.”
Read his full statement (below):
Thoughts? Let us know in the comments.
[Image via MEGA/WENN]