{"id":620787,"date":"2026-09-19T07:26:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T07:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/620787\/"},"modified":"2026-09-19T07:26:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T07:26:12","slug":"ed-sheeran-opener-aaron-rowe-defends-singer-amid-macklemore-fallout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/620787\/","title":{"rendered":"Ed Sheeran Opener Aaron Rowe Defends Singer Amid Macklemore Fallout"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tAaron Rowe<\/a> has defended Ed Sheeran<\/a> amid the continuing fallout over Macklemore\u2019s removal from the singer\u2019s Loop Tour<\/a>, arguing that public criticism is being directed at the wrong person.<\/p>\n

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\n\tRowe was among the artists who withdrew from Sheeran\u2019s remaining tour dates after Macklemore was dropped from eight scheduled appearances. <\/p>\n

\n\tThe decision followed Macklemore\u2019s pro-Palestinian comments and performance of his 2024 protest song \u201cHind\u2019s Hall\u201d during Sheeran\u2019s Sept. 4 and 5 concerts at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI\u2019m gonna be honest. I think you are all focusing on the wrong person here,\u201d Rowe said in an Instagram video posted Friday<\/a> (Sept. 18). \u201cAll I keep hearing is Ed Sheeran this, Ed Sheeran that \u2014 when you really should be focusing on the likes of Robert Kraft.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tKraft\u2019s company, the Kraft Group, owns Gillette Stadium, where Macklemore had been scheduled to support Sheeran on Sept. 25 and 26. Macklemore previously alleged that Kraft pressured promoters to remove him from the tour. Messina Touring Group said venues had warned that upcoming concerts would not proceed while Macklemore remained on the bill.<\/p>\n

\n\tSheeran has said the decision was made by the tour\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\n\tRowe said Sheeran\u2019s response \u201ccould have been a lot better,\u201d but argued that panic within the singer\u2019s team contributed to the decision and that he believed Sheeran now considered it a mistake.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI haven\u2019t had a chance to talk to Ed too much, but I fully believe he knows that was a mistake,\u201d Rowe said.<\/p>\n

\n\tRowe, Lukas Graham and FINNEAS<\/a> subsequently withdrew from scheduled<\/a> support appearances, while Irish band Beoga pulled out of its role in Sheeran\u2019s touring band. Announcing his departure earlier in the week, Rowe said he could not \u201cstand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence\u201d artists speaking about Palestinians.<\/p>\n

\n\tMacklemore has pledged to donate $1 million in net earnings from the tour to organizations supporting Palestinians and publicly challenged Kraft to match the contribution. Kraft later announced a $2 million commitment, saying it followed a similar request from Sheeran.<\/p>\n

\n\tSheeran\u2019s tour is scheduled to resume Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. No opening acts are currently listed for the concert.<\/p>\n