Aaron Rowe withdraws from the Loop Tour in support of Macklemore
Irish singer-songwriter, a support act on the North American leg of the Loop Tour
“Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this. But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine, and violent occupation.”
Source and context
Original post
About this source
Aaron Rowe’s own account, @aaronrowe__, announcing his withdrawal as a support act. The post was opened and its author, account and posting date were confirmed directly. The body of the statement is published as images rather than caption text, so the wording quoted in the Dispute Index record is taken from news transcription of those images, not read from the post itself.
Reporting
About this source
The Globe and Mail reports the four withdrawals and quotes the statements of Aaron Rowe and Beoga, noting that Rowe and Lukas Graham had been due to replace Macklemore and that Beoga performed inside Sheeran’s own set.
Reporting
About this source
NBC News reports Sheeran’s September 15 Instagram statement and rounds up public figures who voiced support for Macklemore, including Kneecap and the mayor of Dearborn. Published 11:03 a.m. ET and updated 3:18 p.m. ET on September 15, 2026.
Before the quotation
Rowe had been among the acts due to replace Macklemore on the remaining U.S. dates.
After the quotation
He wrote that he could not “stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up.” The genocide characterisation is his own.
How this statement is classified
Case context: Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” speech and removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to Macklemore’s speech and removal, Rowe casts the removal as billionaires silencing rightful voices and withdraws in protest. His warmth toward Sheeran personally does not qualify that conclusion.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Macklemore
Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” speech and removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full case“Glad to see Macklemore off Ed Sheeran’s tour. For years, Macklemore has pushed antisemitic tropes and demonized Israel and Israelis. Now he certainly has the 1A right to speak out and express his views, but demonizing Jews and Israelis shouldn’t be rewarded.”Read statement
“When your only response to dissent is to use power and wealth to make it go away, you are going to have the opposite effect. People can see what’s happening in the Middle East with their eyes and don’t want to be told what they’re allowed to think by people who own stadiums.”Read statement
“So proud of Aaron. A brave and selfless act to stand with Palestine & humanity against Israel’s barbarism and the billionaires that support their crimes. Aaron you have upheld Ireland’s noble tradition of resistance to colonialism & Empire. So proud!”Read statement