Aaron Rowe leaves Ed Sheeran tour over Macklemore removal, points at Robert Kraft

Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe has withdrawn as an opening act on Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour after Macklemore was removed from the bill.

Rowe announced the decision on Tuesday. In a video posted to Instagram, he said Macklemore should not have been pulled off the tour, while defending Sheeran and saying attention should focus on Robert Kraft and Zionist lobbies, Rolling Stone reported.

Macklemore was removed after making onstage comments in support of Palestinians and criticising Israel's war in Gaza. The removal included a scheduled performance at Gillette Stadium after a 'Free Palestine' chant, according to reports on the incident.

Rowe said Sheeran's public statement on the fallout could have been better. He said Macklemore should have stayed. He also repeated Sheeran's account of how the decision was made.

Sheeran has said the decision was not his. He said it was taken by promoter Messina Touring Group, the company handling tour logistics and bookings, combined with pressure from venues as orchestrated by Kraft. Kraft is the owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium.

Macklemore has said Sheeran told him that Kraft had said Macklemore would not be allowed to perform in Kraft's stadium, Rolling Stone reported. Neither the promoter nor the venue operators have been quoted in the verified accounts as giving a separate public explanation.

A dispute over donations has followed the removal. Macklemore pledged to donate $1 million to Palestinian support groups and challenged Kraft to match him. He also said he would donate his $1 million in earnings from Sheeran's tour to Palestinian relief organisations.

Kraft responded with a $2 million commitment to aid in the region, claiming it matched a donation from Sheeran. Kraft later said Sheeran had asked him to commit the $2 million amid the controversy, Yahoo News reported.

Rowe is not the only act to leave. Finneas and Lukas Graham both quit as opening acts, the performers booked to play before Sheeran, in protest after Macklemore was removed. Rowe left in solidarity with Macklemore and in support of Palestine, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

Sheeran's backing band Beoga has also left the Loop Tour. The band announced its departure in an Instagram post following what it described as the silencing of Macklemore by Zionist lobbies, The Forward reported. Multiple supporting acts left on Tuesday, with some statements implicitly citing Kraft's involvement.

Sheeran has not announced replacement acts. The tour's remaining dates are unchanged in public listings.