Supporting Acts Withdraw From Ed Sheeran’s Tour in Solidarity
Ed Sheeran's upcoming Loop tour has lost all its supporting acts and its backing band. They have withdrawn in solidarity with the rapper Macklemore, who was removed from the tour after making pro-Palestine comments at a concert. Billionaire venue owners pressured Sheeran to drop Macklemore. The departing artists, including Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and the band Beoga, stated that they refuse to let wealthy figures silence musicians who speak out against oppression.
Ed Sheeran’s upcoming Loop tour has faced a major crisis after all four of his supporting acts and his backing band withdrew from the shows. This mass departure has happened in solidarity with the rapper Macklemore, who was recently kicked off the tour because of his onstage comments about Palestine.
During two concerts in New Jersey, Macklemore gave a short speech to support the people of Gaza and the West Bank, ending with the phrase "free Palestine". This speech upset several stadium owners, including the billionaire Robert Kraft, who supports Israel. These owners pressured Ed Sheeran to remove the rapper. Sheeran later posted a statement on Instagram, explaining that venue owners refused to host the concerts if Macklemore remained on the lineup.
Following Macklemore's removal, the other artists decided to take action. The singer Finneas, who was scheduled to open six South American dates in November, announced his withdrawal on Tuesday. He stated that artists must not be silenced when they speak up for oppressed people.
Irish singer Aaron Rowe, who was set to open ten North American dates, also dropped out. Rowe explained that although Sheeran is a close friend who changed his life, he could not stay on the tour. He wrote that Irish people understand occupation and famine, and he refused to let billionaires silence voices that highlight the murder of children.
Shortly after Rowe’s announcement, Sheeran’s backing band, Beoga, also left the tour. The traditional Irish band stated they wanted to protest the silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies. Finally, the Danish pop band Lukas Graham withdrew as well. Lead singer Lukas Forchhammer stated that money does not give anyone the right to own the conversation or decide whose suffering we can acknowledge.
Take a position. Out loud, if you can.
Four ways to start. Pick one and try saying it before you scroll on.
Tip · Record yourself, use in a notebook, or practice with a language partner.
Which of the following acts was scheduled for the South American dates in November?
Present Perfect Simple for recent events with present relevance
The present perfect simple (have/has + past participle) is used here to report a recent event that has a major impact on the current situation.
“Ed Sheeran’s upcoming Loop tour has faced a major crisis after all four of his supporting acts and his backing band withdrew from the shows.”
What to know · B1
Try saying this aloud
Scenario: Discussing a sudden collective resignation at your workplace with a friend.
- 01“They withdrew in solidarity.”
- 02“The team has faced a major crisis.”
- 03“I don't take this decision lightly.”
Register tip · neutral
🔑Key Phrases
Refers to the scheduled series of concerts that Ed Sheeran is preparing to perform.
Tickets for the upcoming Loop tour sold out in minutes.
The political statement that led to the removal of Macklemore and the subsequent solidarity strikes.
He ended his performance by shouting 'free Palestine'.
The term used by the band Beoga to describe the interest groups that pressured for Macklemore's removal.
The band blamed zionist lobbies for the cancellation.
A figurative phrase meaning to control what topics are discussed and how they are framed.
Wealthy corporations should not be allowed to own the conversation on climate change.
Article Audio — Kokoro TTS
Supporting Acts Withdraw From Ed Sheeran’s Tour in Solidarity
💬Discussion Questions
Open-ended questions to talk or write about — alone, with a partner, or in class.
- 1
How does this article show the conflict between financial power and artistic freedom?
Evaluate - 2
Why do you think the Irish artists felt so strongly about this issue?
Compare - 3
Do you think Ed Sheeran should have canceled the tour instead of removing Macklemore?
Opinion - 4
What kind of impact will this mass withdrawal have on Ed Sheeran's career?
Predict - 5
How would you react if a close friend made a decision you strongly disagreed with?
Personal - 6
Should venue owners have the right to choose which artists perform in their stadiums based on political views?
Opinion - 7
In your opinion, is solidarity among artists common in the modern music industry?
Evaluate - 8
How do you think fans of the tour will react to these cancellations?
Predict
News sourced from: The Guardian Culture →. LectoPress rewrites the facts as original graded-reader text for language learners.
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