{
  "id": 7621916,
  "title": "Ed Sheeran Tour Openers Finneas & Aaron Rowe Withdraw After Macklemore Dropped For “Free Palestine” Remarks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheeran-tour-openers-finneas-aaron-rowe-withdraw-after-macklemore",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-15T20:10:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Deadline",
    "slug": "deadline",
    "url": "https://deadline.com/2026/09/ed-sheeran-tour-openers-pull-out-finneas-aaron-rowe-1237104440/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Finneas and Aaron Rowe have dropped out as opening acts for Ed Sheeran's North American leg of his Loop tour. This follows the dismissal of fellow supporting act Macklemore, who made pro-Palestinian remarks during Sheeran's New Jersey shows on September 4 and 5.\n\nFinneas, brother to Billie Eilish, announced his withdrawal on Instagram, stating that artists must not be silenced when speaking up for the oppressed. He expressed his support for Palestine and its people. According to Deadline, Finneas was also set to join Sheeran on the South American portion of the tour.\n\nAaron Rowe also posted on Instagram, explaining that he couldn't stand by and allow billionaires to silence voices speaking up against Israeli genocide and highlighting the murder of children. He mentioned his Irish heritage and the history of colonization, and decided to withdraw as a support act for Sheeran's tour. Variety and Billboard reported that Rowe dropped out in solidarity with Macklemore and to show support for Palestine.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Newsweek",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran Breaks Silence As Macklemore Dropped From Tour Over Gaza Remarks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheeran-breaks-silence-as-macklemore-dropped-from-tour-over-gaza",
        "published": "2026-09-15T15:40:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Rolling Stone",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran Breaks Silence on Macklemore Leaving Tour: Venue, Promoter Made ‘Final’ Decisions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheeran-breaks-silence-on-macklemore-leaving-tour-venue-promoter",
        "published": "2026-09-15T16:57:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Variety",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran Opener Aaron Rowe Pulls Out of Tour After Macklemore Dropped: ‘I Cannot Allow Billionaires to Silence Rightful Voices’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheeran-opener-aaron-rowe-pulls-out-of-tour-after-macklemore",
        "published": "2026-09-15T19:11:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Billboard",
        "title": "Aaron Rowe Leaves Ed Sheeran Tour in Solidarity With Macklemore & Palestinians: ‘I Would Lose All Respect for Myself’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/aaron-rowe-leaves-ed-sheeran-tour-in-solidarity-with-macklemore",
        "published": "2026-09-15T19:40:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hollywood Reporter",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran Opener Aaron Rowe Departs Tour in Solidarity With Macklemore",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheeran-opener-aaron-rowe-departs-tour-in-solidarity-with",
        "published": "2026-09-15T19:41:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran's opening acts quit tour in solidarity with Macklemore",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheerans-opening-acts-quit-tour-in-solidarity-with-macklemore",
        "published": "2026-09-15T21:55:35.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}