From The Hollywood Reporter · Caitlin Huston · · 1m 20s
Ed Sheeran's opener quits over Palestine
Irish singer Aaron Rowe walked away from a North American arena tour after Macklemore was dropped for speaking on Palestine.
In brief
Irish singer Aaron Rowe walked away from a North American arena tour after Macklemore was dropped for speaking on Palestine. Rowe gave up the biggest stage of his career rather than stay silent, framing it as an Irish debt to his own history of famine and occupation. Originally reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
The opener walks
Irish singer Aaron Rowe pulled out of the North American leg of Ed Sheeran's tour, giving up one of the biggest slots a young artist can get.
Why he left
He went in solidarity with Macklemore, who was dropped from the same tour after making statements in support of Palestine.
The tour in question
The slot was on Sheeran's 'The Loop' North American run, an arena-scale tour that would have put Rowe in front of enormous crowds night after night.
“I have made the decision to withdraw as a support act for Ed Sheeran's 'The Loop' North American Tour”
No hard feelings toward Ed
Rowe said the choice was not easy and credited Sheeran directly, calling him a friend who changed his life.
“Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this.”
An Irish frame
Rowe tied his decision to Irish history, invoking famine, occupation and ancestors who resisted colonisation as the reason he could not carry on as normal.
“But as Irish people, we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation”
Power and silence
His core objection was about who gets to speak. He said he would not let billionaires use their position to silence voices speaking up against what he called genocide.
“I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal.”
What it means
Rowe gave up the biggest stage of his career rather than stay silent, framing it as an Irish debt to his own history of famine and occupation.
