Ed Sheeran opens Philadelphia show with Gaza remarks after Macklemore removal

Ed Sheeran opened a solo concert in Philadelphia on Saturday night by addressing the Israel-Gaza conflict directly, telling the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field that what is happening in Gaza is "catastrophic and unjustifiable." The remarks came at the first show he has played since Macklemore was removed as his tour opener following the rapper's onstage pro-Palestinian comments, and after the rest of his supporting acts withdrew in solidarity.

"What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on October 7th was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain," Sheeran said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable, and disproportionate."

The singer had previously said he did not want his concerts to become political forums and that he would not be drawn into discussion of the war in Gaza. But in Philadelphia, he said the backlash had forced him to speak.

“I am used to my music being criticized, and I'm always happy to take that because I'm lucky a lot of you like my stuff. 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.”

: Ed Sheeran, from the stage at Lincoln Financial Field, as reported by Rolling Stone

Sheeran denied responsibility for Macklemore's removal, saying the decision belonged to promoter Messina Touring Group and was driven by pressure from venues, including Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft. "I am deeply worried about the idea that venues should pre-approve content for performers," Sheeran said. "This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world."

Macklemore was dropped from the tour after saying "Free Palestine" during a September 5 show in New Jersey. Following his exit, all of Sheeran's opening acts withdrew, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe. Before Saturday's show, a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside the stadium.

Sheeran told the audience that his concerts have always been a safe space for everyone and that honoring his commitment to fans is why he continued the tour alone. "My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians' lives, of children's lives," he said. "The systemic injustice we're seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked."

The singer said he is speaking to people across the spectrum to work out how to make a contribution that helps victims and is listening and learning because he does not know enough. He closed by thanking fans for standing by him, saying everyone is welcome at his concerts and can have opposing points of view while still singing his songs, which are about "love, hope, and unity."