Ed Sheeran opener Aaron Rowe ditches tour and rails against ‘Israeli genocide’ after Macklemore fiasco

By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-09-15 20:01:39 | Updated at 2026-09-15 20:52:44 52 minutes ago

Ed Sheeran’s opening act dropped out of his tour in solidarity with Macklemore, who was booted from the concert series for his Israel-bashing comments.

Aaron Rowe performs onstage during the All Together Now Festival on Saturday, August 2, 2025, in Waterford, Ireland. Redferns

Ed Sheeran and Macklemore attend the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, August 25, 2013, at the Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Kevin Mazur/WireImage for MTV

Irish singer Aaron Rowe announced the decision to ditch Sheeran’s LOOP tour in a Tuesday statement, in which he echoed some of Macklemore’s controversial ideologies.

Rowe said that he didn’t “take the decision lightly” and thanked Sheeran for the opportunity to perform.

Macklemore opens for Ed Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026.

“I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children,” Rowe said.

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