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Ed Sheeran apologised to fans for making “mistakes” as he opened his first concert since rapper Macklemore was dropped from his tour over pro-Palestinian comments, according to the BBC.
Speaking in Philadelphia, Sheeran said the controversy had drawn him into a wider debate about free speech and the conflict between Israel and Palestine. He said he had never intended to be “an activist musician”, but could no longer hide his feelings about what he described as a humanitarian issue.
“I never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about free speech and the most complex political issue on the planet,” he told the audience.
Sheeran describes Gaza situation as “unjustifiable”
The singer called the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks “horrific” and said they had compounded centuries of Jewish suffering. He described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate”.
“My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilian lives, of children’s lives,” Sheeran said, adding that what he called systemic injustice in the West Bank could not be ignored.
He said he was trying to determine how he could help victims of the conflict while “listening and learning”, acknowledging that he did not know enough about the issue.
“I have tried in my career not to be a political commentator of any kind, because I want my music and shows to be about unity, not division,” he said. “But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.”
Macklemore’s removal sparks free-speech debate
Sheeran has said the decision to remove Macklemore was made by his promoters, not by him. The dispute has led all of the tour’s support acts to withdraw and has coincided with falling ticket prices and weaker sales for the remaining US dates of his “Loop Tour”.
“This week, the criticism was about something much more important, and I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions—and I am making mistakes—and I’m so, so sorry,” Sheeran told fans.
He said the concert remained a place where people with opposing views were welcome. Sheeran also expressed concern that venues might begin pre-approving content or performers, a comment that drew applause.
Macklemore’s controversy began in early September when he performed a song dedicated to pro-Palestinian protesters and described the Gaza death toll as genocide, a claim rejected by Israel. He said criticism of Israel was not directed at “my Jewish brothers and sisters”.
Messina Touring Group said Macklemore was removed because some venues, including Gillette Stadium in Boston, Massachusetts, would not host the concerts if he performed. Stadium owner Robert Kraft, who is Jewish, accused the rapper of hate speech and of presenting selective information while ignoring Hamas’s actions.
Protesters gather outside Philadelphia concert
Several protesters waved flags outside the Philadelphia venue, although the concert proceeded without major disruption. One protester, Cooper, said artists with public platforms should be able to speak in support of Palestinians.
Fans interviewed before and after the show said they wanted to enjoy the concert while also supporting freedom of speech. One attendee described Sheeran’s remarks as sincere and said he had addressed both sides of the issue.
Sheeran’s remaining tour dates are scheduled across North and South America. Some tickets for the Philadelphia show were available for $32, while some fans said they had obtained refunds. Ticketmaster and Messina Touring Group did not confirm whether refunds were being issued.
