Singer Ed Sheeran directly addressed the Macklemore backlash while speaking to the crowd gathered to support the “Shape of You” singer during his tour stop in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 19. Although protesters gathered outside the venue, Sheeran emphasized that what is happening in Gaza is both “catastrophic” and “unjustifiable.”
On Saturday, Ed Sheeran continued his Loop Tour without Macklemore and performed at Lincoln Financial Stadium. While there, he addressed the criticism and backlash that he has received online and apologized for “making mistakes” in how the situation was handled.
“This is not usually how I would open the show, but before I play some songs tonight, I hope it’s okay if I say a few words about this last week. I’m used to my music being criticized, and I’m always happy to take that because I’m lucky,” he said in remarks recorded by The Hollywood Reporter.
“A lot of you like my stuff, and to be honest, I’m surprised,” he continued. “But 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.”
‘My Concerts Have Always Been A Safe Space For Everyone’
The “Sapphire” singer continued, “I don’t want to disappoint fans, and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet. My concerts have always been a safe space for everyone, and that matters hugely to me. Honoring my commitment to my fans is also completely essential to who I am, and that is why I’m here tonight on my own and continuing my current tour.”
He went on to say that he was “deeply worried about the idea that venues pre-approve content for performance,” noting that, “This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.”
The “Thinking Out Loud” singer then went on to “address the question of where I stand in the situation in Israel and Palestine.”
‘What Is Happening In Gaza Is Catastrophic And Unjustifiable’
“I am trying 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. About humanity, not politics. But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore,” he told the audience. “What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on October 7th was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain.”
“What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable, and disproportionate,” he continued. “Our hearts can be broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians’ lives, of children’s lives, and the systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.”
“I am already speaking to people across the spectrum to work out how to make a contribution that helps victims of these terrible times, and listening and learning because I do not know enough,” he added.
While performing at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on September 4 and 5, Macklemore made comments in support of Palestine during the two shows. After criticism, Sheeran’s tour promoter said venues threatened to pull out if the rapper was allowed to continue performing.
Following Macklemore’s removal, Sheeran’s supporting acts, including Aaron Rowe, Finneas, and Luke Graham, announced that they were dropping out of the tour in solidarity. Sheeran’s backing band, Beoga, also bowed out as well.
Sheeran performed on Saturday without an opening act, and ticket holders were notified that the concert start time had been adjusted from 5:30 PM to 8 PM.
Ed Sheeran ‘Didn’t Know’ If He Would Perform
After taking the stage at 8 PM, Ed Sheeran told the crowd, “I didn’t know whether I’d be here or not,” adding, “I hope you enjoyed my support performers this evening. I hope you’re great. This is the Loop Tour. The Loop Tour is this thing at my feet, which is called a loop station. It’s this loop station. Everything you hear tonight is completely live. It’s made on the spot, controlled by my feet. There’s no backing track whatsoever.”
Although the concert start time was postponed, protests began around 4:30 PM local time.
Ahead of the concert, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department told THR in a statement that “as with all large events at the stadium complex, the Philadelphia Police Department is working closely with venue and event organizers to help ensure the safety of concertgoers, employees and neighborhood residents.”
