Ed Sheeran's Hollywood opener quits tour after Macklemore removal

What they're saying: "I don't take the decision lightly," Rowe posted on Instagram. "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."

Catch up quick: Macklemore voiced his support for Palestinians and accused Israel of genocide during his shows on Sept.4-5 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

• He told the crowd on Sept. 4 that he wanted to do the tour "so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: 'Free Palestine.'
• Macklemore then performed his 2024 pro-Palestinian song "Hind's Hall," with a slideshow of footage from the Gaza war.
• The tour's promoters, Messina Touring Group, told Rolling Stone Monday that concert venues threatened to cancel shows unless Macklemore was dropped from the tour after his pro-Palestinian comments.

Zoom in: Macklemore said the decision came after he spoke with Sheeran, alleging that the headliner faced pressure from stadium owners including Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium.

• In a statement to ESPN, Kraft cited "Macklemore's recent actions, material shared from the stage during Sheeran's shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community."

Flashback: In 2014, Macklemore faced backlash for wearing a black wig, beard and a fake hooked nose during a Seattle performance, an outfit critics called a caricature of a Jewish man.

• He later apologized, saying it was "a random costume thrown together."

Zoom out: Finneas, Irish folk band Beoga and Danish band Lukas Graham also dropped out of the tour.