Former Ed Sheeran Opener Aaron Rowe Defends Singer Amid Macklemore Tour Fallout

Aaron Rowe has defended Ed Sheeran amid the continuing fallout over Macklemore’s removal from the singer’s Loop Tour, arguing that public criticism is being directed at the wrong person.

The decision followed Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian comments and performance of his 2024 protest song “Hind’s Hall” during Sheeran’s Sept. 4 and 5 concerts at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

A empresa de Kraft, o Kraft Group, possui o Gillette Stadium, onde Macklemore estava programado para apoiar Sheeran nos dias 25 e 26 de setembro. Macklemore alegou anteriormente que Kraft pressionou os promotores para removê-lo do tour.

Messina Touring Group disse que os locais haviam avisado que os shows futuros não seriam realizados enquanto Macklemore permanecesse no programa.

Sheeran has said the decision was made by the tour’s promoter rather than him. He said he spoke with venues, promoters and activists in an attempt to find a resolution but was unable to overrule the decision.

Rowe said Sheeran’s response “could have been a lot better,” but argued that panic within the singer’s team contributed to the decision and that he believed Sheeran now considered it a mistake.

Rowe, Lukas Graham and FINNEAS subsequently withdrew from scheduled support appearances, while Irish band Beoga pulled out of its role in Sheeran’s touring band.

Announcing his departure earlier in the week, Rowe said he could not “stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence” artists speaking about Palestinians.

O tour do Sheeran está programado para retomar na noite de sábado no Lincoln Financial Field, em Filadélfia. Nenhum ato de abertura está atualmente listado para o concerto.

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