British singer Ed Sheeran expressed regret over recent decisions and denounced the situation in Gaza during a concert in Philadelphia on Saturday evening, following intense criticism over the removal of rapper Macklemore from his tour.
Addressing the audience at the start of his show, Sheeran acknowledged committing errors during what he described as the hardest week of his life, while speaking publicly about the Middle East conflict for the first time since the controversy began.
Sheeran told spectators that events in Gaza were catastrophic, unjustifiable and disproportionate. He added that hearts were broken by the scale of devastation and the deaths of civilians and children, noting that systemic injustice witnessed in the West Bank could not be ignored, though he did not explicitly name Israel as responsible.
The musician also condemned the atrocious attacks carried out by the Islamic movement Hamas on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza. Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist political and military organisation that has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007.
Sheeran admitted to taking difficult decisions and said he was really, really sorry for his mistakes, drawing acclaim and applause from the audience inside the venue.
Sheeran, who was born in West Yorkshire, England, rose to fame as a chart-topping singer-songwriter and is known for global hit singles including Shape of You. Throughout his career, the musician has generally maintained a low-profile image on political issues.
Macklemore tour removal and artist protest
The controversy began on Monday when American rapper Macklemore was removed from Sheeran's concert tour under pressure from American stadium owners. Macklemore, who had been performing as an opening act on the tour, had called on audiences to free Palestine during two separate shows in early September.
Macklemore, born Ben Haggerty, is an American hip-hop artist who achieved global commercial success with chart-topping hits including Thrift Shop and Can't Hold Us. His eviction triggered an immediate outcry among Sheeran's fans. Sheeran initially defended his stance, maintaining that he did not want to make his job a political platform.
The decision to drop Macklemore prompted other supporting artists on the tour to walk out in protest. Among those who withdrew was singer Finneas, an American songwriter and producer who regularly collaborates with his sister, global pop star Billie Eilish.
Solo performance in Philadelphia
Following the walkout by supporting performers, Sheeran was left without an opening act for his concert in Philadelphia, the largest city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and a major stop for international stadium concert tours.
Sheeran began the show alone on stage before later being joined by five backing musicians who learned his songs in just three days. The singer revealed to the crowd that the group had stepped in after nobody else wished to perform on stage with him.
