Pop star Ed Sheeran said the situation in Gaza is “unjustifiable,” following a wave of criticism that he had failed to back his opening act’s pro-Palestinian comments.
“What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate,” he said as he opened his show in Philadelphia without rapper Macklemore, who was booted from ‘The Loop Tour’ after shouting “Free Palestine” at a New Jersey concert earlier this month.
“I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so, so sorry,” Mr Sheeran said.
Speaking to the crowd, an emotional Mr Sheeran added, “I am honestly so grateful that you’re here tonight with me.
“This concert is still a place where you are welcome and everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing views, and everyone can stand beside people that they don’t agree with on everything, but they can all agree on singing these songs,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Sheeran fans rallied around the singer at his first US concert since the controversy erupted.
All of the support acts for ‘The Loop Tour’ announced they were dropping out of the remaining dates after the rapper, real name Benjamin Haggerty, was dropped from the line-up.
Mr Sheeran’s backing band Beoga also announced they were stepping down, writing on Instagram that they “fully supported” Macklemore’s message.
But fans going into Lincoln Financial Field Stadium in Philadelphia last night said they were sticking by the English musician.
James Webber IV from Scranton in Pennsylvania said, “I stand with Ed. I think there’s a time for politics, and a music concert is not one of those places.”
His father, James Webber III, said, “Everything will be fine. In a couple of months this will blow over. He doesn’t deserve this.
“I think he did the right thing, staying true to what he believes, and the fans will support him,” he added.
A small but vocal pro-Palestine protest was held outside the subway station that serves the stadium, several hundred metres from the venue.
The 35-year-old English singer began his world tour in Auckland, New Zealand in January.
It is set to wrap up in Mexico City in December, with a total of 16 shows still scheduled across North and South America, after Philadelphia.
Prior to acts walking out, the concert was scheduled to start with the first support act at 5.30 pm local time (10.30 pm Irish time), with doors opening at 4.30 pm and Mr Sheeran on stage at 8 pm.
The start time for yesterday’s show was pushed back from 5.30 pm to 8 pm. Doors opened at 6 pm.
Other acts who dropped out of Mr Sheeran’s tour include Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Grammy Award-winning musician Finneas, who is Billie Eilish’s brother, and Danish singer Lukas Graham.
On Monday, Macklemore posted on Instagram claiming Mr Sheeran and his team had “made the decision to remove” him from ‘The Loop Tour’.
Mr Sheeran responded in a statement posted to Instagram on Tuesday, saying it was the promoter’s decision to remove the rapper from the tour, not his.
He said “upcoming tour dates had communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting”, and added that Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium where he was due to play, was among them.
Mr Sheeran added, “I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict.”
“Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care.
“Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own personal way,” he added.
The ‘Shape Of You’ singer said he was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine”, and added he respected Macklemore “as an artist”.
Mr Rowe defended Mr Sheeran in a video posted to his Instagram account on Friday, and called for more attention to be paid to “the likes of Robert Kraft – the Zionist lobbies that are trying to silence the voices of people who are shouting about genocide, the genocide that is happening in Palestine right now”.
Reference Link:- https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2026/0920/1592214-sheeran-macklemore/