Ed Sheeran's (Halifax, 35) North American tour, the Loop Tour, has lost a large part of its members in a very short time. The decision by the promoter Messina Touring Group to remove rapper Macklemore (Seattle, 43) from the lineup – following his statements in favor of a "free Palestine" during two performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey – has triggered a chain reaction: the three remaining opening acts (FINNEAS, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe) and Sheeran's own backing band, the traditional Irish group Beoga, have collectively resigned from continuing on the tour.