All four supporting acts scheduled to perform on upcoming dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour have withdrawn from the tour in solidarity with fellow artist Macklemore, who was removed following his onstage comments in support of Palestine.

Macklemore was dropped from the US leg of the tour after making pro-Palestinian remarks during performances at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium earlier this month. During a speech on September 4, the Grammy-winning rapper said the people of Gaza and the occupied West Bank had not been forgotten, ending his remarks with the words, “Free Palestine.”

According to The Guardian, Finneas, Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Danish pop band Lukas Graham and Irish band Beoga — which performs as part of Sheeran’s live backing band — subsequently announced that they would no longer take part in the upcoming tour dates.

Finneas, who had been scheduled to perform at six South American dates in November, said artists should not be silenced for speaking up for oppressed people. Rowe said he could not continue with the tour over Macklemore’s removal, while Beoga said it was protesting what it described as the silencing of the rapper.

Lukas Graham frontman Lukas Forchhammer said artists should be able to speak about war, civilian deaths and the suffering of children, regardless of where they live.

The withdrawals came after Sheeran said venue owners and the tour promoter had decided that Macklemore could not continue as a supporting act at certain stadiums.

Sheeran said the decision to remove Macklemore was not his own and that he had spent the week attempting to find a solution. He said he would not cancel the tour, citing commitments to fans, touring crew and other musicians whose livelihoods depend on the shows.

ABC News reports that all four supporting acts for the upcoming dates of Sheeran’s Loop Tour withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore after the rapper was removed from the US tour over his pro-Palestinian comments.

The controversy has also drawn wider reactions from artists, public figures and others. Meanwhile, Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots, said his decision regarding Macklemore’s appearance was based on concerns over what he described as the rapper’s recent actions and a broader history of rhetoric and imagery he believed had offended the Jewish community.

Kraft said he would be willing to meet Macklemore to discuss the issue, adding that his goal was peace, an end to suffering and an end to hatred.