Ed Sheeran has apologised to fans for making “mistakes” as he opened a solo show in Philadelphia by addressing the controversy that has engulfed his tour.
The star responded to the fallout over rapper Macklemore being dropped from the tour for making pro-Palestinian remarks on stage earlier in September.
“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 said at Saturday’s show.
He described the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks as “horrific” and called the situation in Gaza “unjustifiable” in his first in-person remarks since the controversy began.
Several artists left the tour, while the price of tickets dropped and sales declined for the remaining US leg of his Loop Tour due to the controversy.
The singer has said the decision to drop Macklemore was made by his promoters, not him.
Sheeran told the crowd that while he was used to facing criticism for his music, “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”.
He said he wanted to “address the question of where I stand in the situation in Israel and Palestine, and whether my doing this concert here tonight implies where I stand”.
“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 continued. “But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.”
Sheeran said what happened in Israel on 7 October was “horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain”, and what was happening in Gaza was “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate”.
“My heart has been broken by the scale of of devastation and loss of civilian lives, of children’s lives, and this systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.”
He said he was working out how to contribute in a way that would help “victims of these terrible times – and listening and learning, because I do not know enough”.
The British singer became emotional as he told the crowd his concert was “still a place where everyone is welcome, and everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing views”.
He said that he had not known “whether this tour would be carrying on” and “whether I even wanted to be an artist at all”, but that he had returned to the stage because he was committed to his fans.
Sheeran also said he was “deeply worried” by the idea that venues would “pre-approve” content or performers, which received applause from the audience.
Sheeran’s remaining tour dates are scheduled with shows set throughout North and South America. While the mega-star’s previous tour was among the highest-grossing of all time, some ticket prices for this show dropped to $32 (£24).
Some fans also reported being able to get ticket refunds, though Ticketmaster and concert promoter Messina Touring Group did not confirm they were being reimbursed.
Some protesters waved flags outside the venue, but the concert proceeded largely unfettered.
A protester who gave his name as Cooper said he had come out “to support the struggle for” the Palestinian people.
“We need more people like Macklemore and other artists who have a voice, who have a public platform, to be able to speak on behalf of the Palestinian people and their struggle for liberation, especially in the United States,” he said.
Of the handful of ticket-holders who stopped to talk to the BBC, there was a sentiment of determination to enjoy an evening of music while at the same time supporting freedom of speech.
The controversy began in early September, when Macklemore performed a song dedicated to pro-Palestinian protesters, and referred to “genocide” in Gaza, a description Israel rejects. The rapper also said criticism of Israel was not intended as criticism of “my Jewish brothers and sisters”.
Messina Touring Group said Macklemore was dropped because some venues – such Gillette Stadium in Boston, Massachusetts – would refuse to let the concerts take place if he performed.
Billionaire Robert Kraft who owns Gillette Stadium and the American football team the New England Patriots, confirmed he had banned Macklemore from performing during the British singer’s forthcoming shows.
Kraft, who is Jewish, accused the US rapper of hate speech and said he was “only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas”.
Meanwhile, support acts including Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe and Danish musician Lukas Graham and his backing band Beoga quit the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.
The artists argued his removal represented a chilling effect on free speech.
The fallout from the Macklemore controversy has been extensive. All of Sheeran’s remaining supporting acts, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and his backing band Beoga, quit the tour in solidarity . Ticket resale prices for the Philadelphia show plummeted by as much as 42 percent in the week leading up to the concert, with some tickets selling for as low as $32 . The show itself started nearly three hours later than planned, and Sheeran performed without any opening acts or his usual backing band . Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the venue, with some chanting slogans criticizing the concert . Meanwhile, Macklemore announced he would donate $1 million from his tour earnings to Palestinian relief organizations, and Kraft and Sheeran each pledged $2 million toward humanitarian aid in the region .
