Daily News 19

Tag: Finneas O’Connell

  • Finneas Drops Out of Ed Sheeran Tour in Solidarity with Macklemore

    Finneas Drops Out of Ed Sheeran Tour in Solidarity with Macklemore

    Ed Sheeran’s Mathematics Tour has lost another opening act, with Finneas O’Connell announcing his departure from the remaining North American dates. The move comes just weeks after Macklemore was removed from the lineup following controversial remarks he made during a pro-Palestine rally in Seattle.

    Finneas Exits Tour Citing Scheduling Conflicts

    Finneas, the Grammy-winning songwriter, producer, and solo artist known for his work with sister Billie Eilish, confirmed he would no longer serve as a supporting act for Sheeran’s stadium run. In a statement shared to social media, Finneas wrote: “Due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts with my own project timelines, I’m unable to continue as support on the remaining Ed Sheeran tour dates. This was an incredibly difficult decision, but one I have to make for my own creative path.”

    The announcement leaves Sheeran without two high-profile openers in quick succession, raising questions about the tour’s support bill for its final leg across the United States and Canada.

    Macklemore Removed After “Free Palestine” Chant

    The instability follows the removal of Macklemore, who had been scheduled to open several shows earlier this summer. The Seattle rapper was dropped after video surfaced of him leading a “Free Palestine” chant at a pro-Palestinian protest in his hometown. Sheeran’s team later confirmed the decision in a brief statement, saying the tour “aims to remain a non-political space for music and connection.”

    Macklemore responded on Instagram, writing: “I stand by what I said. Art and activism have always been inseparable for me. I have no regrets.”

    Tour Continues Amid Lineup Shifts

    Despite the turnover, Sheeran’s Mathematics Tour continues its North American stadium run through September. The British singer-songwriter has not announced replacement openers for the affected dates. Ticket holders for shows originally featuring Finneas or Macklemore have been notified that the main performance schedule remains unchanged.

    Industry observers note the unusual frequency of opener changes on a major stadium tour, though representatives for Sheeran insist the transitions are logistical rather than political.

  • Billie Eilish Mocked for Move on ‘stolen land’ After Native Tribe’s Statement

    Billie Eilish Mocked for Move on ‘stolen land’ After Native Tribe’s Statement

    Billie Eilish has faced renewed criticism over her past “stolen land” comments after officiating her brother Finneas O’Connell’s wedding in California.

    O’Connell, 29, married his girlfriend Claudia Sulewski over the weekend at San Ysidro Ranch in California, with Eilish conducting the ceremony.

    Billie Eilish’s Grammy comments resurface

    Criticism of the wedding location follows comments Eilish made earlier this year about immigration enforcement in the United States.

    In February, Eilish won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for Wildflower. During her acceptance speech, she criticised raids carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which have resulted in people being detained for lengthy periods or killed.

    Wearing an “ICE out” badge, the 24-year-old said: “As grateful as I feel, I honestly don’t feel like I need to say anything but that no one is illegal on stolen land.”

    The comments have now been brought back into the debate over Eilish officiating her brother’s wedding. Some social media users criticised her for holding the ceremony at San Ysidro Ranch, which is located in an area that was once part of Chumash land before European colonisation.

    During her Grammy speech, Eilish also said: “It’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now, and I just feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting, and our voices really do matter, and the people matter.”

    She added: “And f**k ICE, that’s all I’m gonna say. Sorry!”

    Why Eilish’s home was also discussed

    At the time, Eilish faced accusations of virtue signalling. Reports also noted that her home is situated on land that once belonged to the Native American Tongva tribe.

    A spokesperson for the Tongva expressed “appreciation” for Eilish’s speech in a statement: “As the First People of the greater Los Angeles basin, we do understand that her home is situated in our ancestral land.”

    The statement continued: “Eilish has not contacted our tribe directly regarding her property, we do value the instance when public figures provide visibility to the true history of this country.“It is our hope that in future discussions, the tribe can explicitly be referenced to ensure the public understands that the greater Los Angeles Basin remains Gabrieleno Tongva territory.”

    A law firm subsequently made what appeared to be an unsolicited and satirical offer to help “evict” Eilish from her home, although there has been no indication that the Tongva intended to pursue such action.

    O’Connell also defended his sister against the outrage of “powerful old white men”, describing those angry with Eilish as “the most cartoonishly evil men on Earth”. LADbible Group has contacted representatives of Billie Eilish for comment.

    Source: www.ladbible.com