Ed Sheeran addressed the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from his Loop Tour during his Philadelphia concert on 19 September 2026, apologising for “making mistakes” before speaking publicly about the situation in Israel and Palestine.
Performing at Lincoln Financial Field, Sheeran took the stage without opening acts or his usual backing band Beoga after several artists withdrew from the tour following Macklemore’s removal.
The singer told the Philadelphia crowd that the past week had forced him into an “important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet.”
“I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes and I’m so, so sorry.”
Sheeran said he had never wanted to be an “activist musician” and had previously tried to keep political issues away from his concerts. However, he said the events surrounding his tour had made it impossible for him to avoid addressing the subject.
What did Ed Sheeran say about Israel and Palestine?
Sheeran directly addressed his position on the situation in Israel and Palestine, saying he had previously avoided political commentary because he wanted his shows to focus on unity.
“But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.”
He condemned the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel and the Nova Music Festival, while also speaking about the destruction and civilian deaths in Gaza.
“What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain,” Sheeran said.
He continued:
“What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate. My heart’s been broken by the scale of devastation and the loss of civilian’s lives. Children’s lives.”
Sheeran also said the “systemic injustice” in the West Bank could not be overlooked.
His comments came during his first scheduled concert since Macklemore was removed from the tour, making the Philadelphia show the first opportunity for Sheeran to address the controversy directly from the stage.
Why was Macklemore removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour?
Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Sheeran’s Loop Tour after making pro-Palestinian comments during a performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
During the show, Macklemore said:
“The truth is, a big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I can stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine.”
Macklemore subsequently said he had been told that stadium owners would not allow him to perform at their venues if he remained on the tour.
Reuters reported that the tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, said the decision followed venue owners refusing to host events featuring Macklemore. Sheeran later said the decision was not his and that Macklemore’s contract was with the promoter.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft also addressed the dispute, saying Macklemore’s recent actions and what Kraft described as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery meant the rapper should not have a platform at the venue. Macklemore has rejected allegations that his support for Palestinians is antisemitic.
Why did Ed Sheeran’s other acts leave the tour?
The fallout did not end with Macklemore’s removal.
Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Sheeran’s Irish backing band Beoga all subsequently left the tour.
Their departures were reported as responses to the circumstances surrounding Macklemore’s removal and concerns over artistic and political expression. Aaron Rowe later defended Sheeran while explaining his own decision to leave.
That left Sheeran performing in Philadelphia without his scheduled opening acts or Beoga. He said he assembled replacement musicians who had only three days to learn the material.
“They said yes with the knowledge that the world may hate them too.”
Sheeran also criticised the idea of venues having the power to determine what performers can say on stage.
“I am deeply worried about the idea that venues [could] preapprove content [by] performers. This happens in so many places that I have performed around the world.”
He added:
“It should never happen in the free world.”
Dheeran says his concerts should remain a place for everyone
Despite addressing the political controversy, Sheeran repeatedly returned to his belief that his concerts should remain welcoming to people with different views.
“This concert is still a place where everyone is welcome, and everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing views. And everyone here can stand by people who they don’t agree with on everything. But they can all agree on singing these songs.”
He then introduced “Castle on the Hill”, telling the crowd:
“These songs are about love, hope and unity.”
Sheeran returned to the subject later in the concert, describing the previous week as one of the most difficult periods of his life.
“The last week of my life has been one of the worst weeks of my life.”
He then told the Philadelphia audience:
“Tonight has been, honestly, the best show of my life.”
Sheeran also described the wider situation in stark terms.
“The world is a scary place right now, America is a scary place right now, this gives hope.”
Ed Sheeran apologises to fans for opening the show with political remarks
Toward the end of the concert, Sheeran apologised again, particularly to families who had bought tickets expecting a music-focused show.
“I understand that people have children here, and I understand that families didn’t buy a ticket to hear that first bit of the show, but that was something I felt like I needed to say, I felt there were a lot of questions [that I] needed to answer.”
Sheeran’s Philadelphia performance took place as protests were held outside Lincoln Financial Field over Macklemore’s removal. The concert itself went ahead without the original opening acts, while Sheeran used the stage to explain his position on the controversy and the wider humanitarian issues he said he could no longer remain silent about.
The North American leg of Sheeran’s Loop Tour is scheduled to continue through 7 November 2026, with the final U.S. date set for Tampa, Florida.
