Ed Sheeran addressed the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from The Loop Tour during his September 19 concert at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, using the stage to speak publicly about Gaza, the backlash surrounding the tour and the difficult decisions of the past week. Sheeran said he had tried to keep politics out of his shows but could no longer “hide how I feel.”
“Before I play some songs tonight, I hope it’s okay if I say a few words about this last week,” Ed Sheeran told the Philadelphia crowd. He apologized for the situation surrounding the tour, saying he had been forced to make “difficult decisions” and acknowledging, “I am making mistakes, and I’m so so sorry.”
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Ed Sheeran then addressed the Israel-Palestine conflict directly, describing the October 7 attack in Israel as terrible while condemning the devastation in Gaza. “What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic, unjustifiable, and disproportionate,” he said, adding that his “heart is broken” by the scale of civilian and child deaths.
“I’ve tried in my career not to be any kind of political commentator because I want my music and my shows to be about unity, not division, about humanity, not politics,” Sheeran said. “But this is a humanitarian issue and I can no longer hide how I feel.” His remarks marked his first major public comments from the stage since Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates.
The controversy began after Macklemore performed “Hind’s Hall” and called for a “Free Palestine” during his September 4 and 5 performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Sheeran later said the decision to remove the rapper was made by the promoter after venue owners indicated they would not host the shows with Macklemore on the bill.
The fallout quickly expanded beyond Macklemore. Finneas, Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham all withdrew from upcoming dates, while Beoga, Sheeran’s longtime touring collaborators, also announced their departure. Finneas said artists should not be silenced when speaking about oppressed people, while the other acts cited their own positions on the conflict and freedom of expression.
Ed Sheeran said he had spent the week speaking with venues, promoters and people on opposing sides of the debate in an effort to find a solution. He also defended continuing The Loop Tour, pointing to fans who had made plans and the crews, musicians and other workers whose livelihoods depend on the concerts.
The singer later thanked the Philadelphia audience for its support, describing the previous seven days as “one of the worst weeks” of his life before calling the Philadelphia performance “honestly the best show of my life.” He also reflected on the personal impact of the dispute, saying, “In this situation you really find out who your friends are,” and that people he had known for years were backing away.
The wider dispute has also moved toward humanitarian fundraising. After Macklemore pledged $1 million from his Loop Tour earnings to organizations supporting Palestinians, Robert Kraft and Sheeran each committed $2 million to humanitarian efforts in the region.
Photo: Atlantic Records
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