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.

Rowe was among the artists who withdrew from Sheeran’s remaining tour dates after Macklemore was dropped from eight scheduled appearances.

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.

“I’m gonna be honest. I think you are all focusing on the wrong person here,” Rowe said in an Instagram video posted Friday (Sept. 18). “All I keep hearing is Ed Sheeran this, Ed Sheeran that — when you really should be focusing on the likes of Robert Kraft.”

Kraft’s 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.

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.

“I haven’t had a chance to talk to Ed too much, but I fully believe he knows that was a mistake,” Rowe said.

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.

Macklemore 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.

Sheeran’s tour is scheduled to resume Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. No opening acts are currently listed for the concert.

This article was first published by Billboard U.S.