Irish singer Aaron Rowe has withdrawn as the opening act for Ed Sheeran’s upcoming North American tour, saying he made the decision in solidarity with rapper Macklemore after Macklemore was removed from the tour following his public statements in support of Palestine.
Rowe announced his decision on Instagram, saying he did not take the move lightly because of his personal relationship with Sheeran. “I have made the decision to withdraw as a support act for Ed Sheeran’s ‘The Loop’ North American Tour,” Rowe wrote. He described Sheeran as a friend who had significantly influenced his life, adding that he could never thank him enough for the opportunities he had received.
However, Rowe said he could not continue with the tour while Macklemore was no longer part of the lineup. He connected his decision to Ireland’s own history of colonisation, famine and political conflict, writing that Irish people “know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation.” Rowe said he could not stand by while powerful figures allegedly used their positions to silence people speaking about the situation in Gaza and Israeli actions against Palestinians.
“I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal,” Rowe wrote. He added that he wanted to remain true to himself and to the generations of Irish people who resisted colonisation and fought for the freedom Ireland has today. He ended his statement with the words, “Free Palestine.”
Rowe’s withdrawal comes shortly after Macklemore was removed from the lineup for the North American leg of Sheeran’s tour. The decision was first confirmed by Sheeran’s tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, which said venues scheduled to host upcoming U.S. shows had communicated that they would not allow concerts to proceed with Macklemore included in the lineup.
According to the promoter, allowing Macklemore to remain on the tour could have resulted in cancellations that would have affected hundreds of thousands of fans as well as the wider touring operation. The statement came after controversy surrounding comments Macklemore made while performing as an opening act for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sept. 4.
During the performance, Macklemore expressed support for Palestine, prompting criticism from some groups. The Israeli-American Council subsequently launched a petition calling for Macklemore to be removed from Sheeran’s tour.
Macklemore later addressed his removal from the tour in a statement of his own. He said New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft had contacted Sheeran and indicated that Macklemore would not be permitted to perform at Kraft’s venue. Macklemore also claimed that Kraft had rallied other stadium owners, who collectively told Sheeran that they would not allow their venues to host the tour if Macklemore remained part of the lineup.
Sheeran subsequently addressed the controversy, explaining that the decision to remove Macklemore was ultimately driven by the venues and promoters involved with the upcoming dates. According to Sheeran, after Macklemore’s performances at his New Jersey shows, venues for future tour dates communicated that they would withdraw from hosting the concerts if Macklemore continued as a supporting act.
Sheeran said he had been told that the venues’ concerns were related to the way Macklemore conveyed part of his message during his performance rather than everything he said. The singer said he spent the week speaking with venues in an attempt to find a solution that would allow the tour to continue.
Sheeran also said that Kraft was among the people with whom he spoke and that he participated in direct discussions with promoters and activists on both sides of the dispute. Despite those efforts, Sheeran said the venues and promoters ultimately made the final decision to remove Macklemore from the tour.
The dispute has now extended beyond Macklemore’s removal, with Rowe becoming the latest artist connected to the tour to publicly take a position. By withdrawing from the North American dates, the Irish singer has made clear that he does not want to continue his role as an opening act while Macklemore remains excluded because of the controversy surrounding his pro-Palestinian statements.
Rowe’s decision also highlights the growing divide among artists, venues and promoters over how political statements made during live performances should be handled. For Rowe, the issue is closely connected to Ireland’s historical experience with colonisation and the country’s relationship with questions of occupation, famine and national independence.
Sheeran’s North American tour will continue amid the fallout, while Rowe’s withdrawal adds another layer to a controversy that has already involved artists, venue owners, promoters and advocacy groups. The dispute has placed the question of political expression at concerts at the centre of attention, particularly when artists’ statements become a point of conflict between performers and the venues hosting major tours.
