Aaron Rowe quits Sheeran tour but says anger should target Kraft, not Sheeran
Aaron Rowe says fans are blaming the wrong man over Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour.
Rowe has withdrawn from Sheeran’s remaining dates. Yet in a video message he defended Sheeran and said criticism should focus on Robert Kraft instead.
In an Instagram video posted on Sept. 18, Rowe said he had not spoken much to Sheeran but added: “I fully believe he knows that was a mistake.” He said Sheeran’s response “could have been a lot better” and put the decision partly down to panic within Sheeran’s team, according to Billboard.
Macklemore was dropped from eight scheduled support appearances — the opening slots played before the headliner — after pro-Palestinian comments and performances of his 2024 protest song “Hind’s Hall” during Sheeran’s Sept. 4 and 5 concerts at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Macklemore alleged that Kraft pressured promoters to remove him. Kraft’s company, the Kraft Group, owns Gillette Stadium, where Macklemore had been due to support Sheeran on Sept. 25 and 26. Messina Touring Group, the promoter — the company that books venues and oversees tour logistics — said venues had warned that upcoming concerts would not proceed while Macklemore remained on the bill. Sheeran said the decision was made by the promoter rather than him.
Rowe was the first participant to announce he would step away. He said he would “lose all respect for myself” if he stayed, and said: “I cannot allow billionaires to silence rightful voices,” as reported by Variety. He left anyway. Lukas Graham and FINNEAS also withdrew from scheduled support appearances, while Irish band Beoga left Sheeran’s touring band.
Money is now part of the dispute. Macklemore pledged to donate $1 million in net earnings from the tour to organisations supporting Palestinians and challenged Kraft to match the contribution. Kraft then announced a $2 million commitment following a similar request from Sheeran.
Sheeran’s tour was scheduled to resume on Saturday night, Sept. 19, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia with no opening acts currently listed.
For fans, this means a headline tour with a suddenly empty undercard. The dates continue. The support slots do not.
