{
  "id": 8389704,
  "title": "Former Ed Sheeran Opener Aaron Rowe Defends Singer Amid Macklemore Tour Fallout",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/former-ed-sheeran-opener-aaron-rowe-defends-singer-amid-macklemore",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-19T05:45:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Billboard",
    "slug": "billboard",
    "url": "https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/ed-sheeran-macklemore-fallout-aaron-rowe-defends-singer-1236343894/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Aaron Rowe, once a performer at Ed Sheeran's concerts, is defending the singer amid controversy surrounding the cancellation of Macklemore's appearances on the Loop Tour. Rowe clarified that public anger should be directed at Kraft, the owner of Gillette Stadium, where Macklemore was set to support Sheeran. Rowe's Instagram video explained that venues had warned concerts would not take place while Macklemore was still on the tour. Sheeran has maintained that the decision was made by the tour's promoter and not him despite his efforts to resolve the issue. Rowe believes Sheeran now regrets the decision. Rowe, along with Lukas Graham, FINNEAS, and Beoga, withdrew from support appearances. Macklemore has pledged to donate $1 million to support Palestinians and challenged Kraft to match the donation, which later amounted to $2 million. Sheeran's tour is set to resume on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, with no opening acts listed yet.",
  "summary": "“I haven’t had a chance to talk to Ed too much, but I fully believe he knows that was a mistake,” Rowe said.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "TheWrap",
        "title": "Bill Maher Revives Macklemore’s Antisemitic Costume Controversy Amid Ed Sheeran Fallout",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/bill-maher-revives-macklemores-antisemitic-costume-controversy-amid",
        "published": "2026-09-19T03:04:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}