Aaron Rowe quits Ed Sheeran's U.S. tour in solidarity with Macklemore

Aaron Rowe has withdrawn from Ed Sheeran's U.S. Loop Tour in solidarity with Macklemore and Palestinians in Gaza.

Rowe, who was booked as one of Sheeran's opening acts, announced his departure in a statement posted to Instagram on Sept. 15, according to Billboard. An opening act plays a shorter set before the headliner. The Irish singer said Sheeran "has been a friend to me and has changed my life." He said he was leaving the tour regardless.

He tied the decision to his own background. "As Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation," Rowe wrote. He added that he needed "to be true to myself and my ancestors who resisted colonisation."

Rowe said he could not allow "billionaires to use their position of power to silence" voices speaking up against what he described as Israeli genocide and highlighting the murder of children. He signed off with two words. "FREE PALESTINE."

Macklemore's exit came first. He played the first two dates of the run at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., where he called for a "free Palestine." Those two concerts were his last shows supporting Sheeran on the trek.

The U.S. leg is organised by Messina Touring Group, the tour's U.S. promoter. A promoter handles the local logistics of a tour, from booking venues to selling tickets. The company said on Sept. 14 that Macklemore had been dropped after owners of venues due to host Sheeran shows threatened to cancel unless he was removed.

Macklemore responded to his dismissal by saying, "There is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed." Robert Kraft then confirmed that Macklemore was banned from the Sept. 25 and 26 concerts at Gillette Stadium. The Kraft Group, owned by Kraft, owns the stadium, which is scheduled to host Sheeran later in September.

Rowe had previously supported Sheeran in Australia during the Loop World Tour. Lukas Graham was also listed as a support act for the Loop Tour alongside Rowe, according to Rolling Stone.

What makes this sequence stand out is the speed. The promoter's announcement on Macklemore came on Sept. 14. Rowe's statement followed the next day, on Sept. 15, leaving the U.S. dates with a changed bill for ticket-holders arriving to see who plays before Sheeran.