British singer Ed Sheeran has addressed the controversy surrounding rapper Macklemore’s removal from his tour, saying he has made “mistakes” while insisting that the crisis in Gaza is a humanitarian issue that he can no longer remain silent about.
Key Highlights
- Ed Sheeran spoke publicly for the first time since Macklemore was dropped from his Loop Tour earlier this month.
- He described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable”, citing the scale of civilian deaths.
- Sheeran condemned the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel as “horrific”.
- He said the decision to remove Macklemore from the tour was made by promoters, not by him.
- Some support acts have withdrawn from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore, and ticket prices for the Philadelphia show fell sharply.
Sheeran spoke during his solo concert in Philadelphia on Saturday, marking his first in-person comments since Macklemore was dropped from the tour after making pro-Palestinian remarks on stage earlier this month.
The singer said he had never intended to become a political activist, but that the controversy had placed him at the centre of a wider debate over free speech and the Israel-Palestine conflict.
“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; about humanity, not politics,” Sheeran said.
“But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.”
Sheeran condemned the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel as “horrific”, saying they compounded centuries of Jewish suffering.
He also described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable”, expressing concern over the scale of civilian deaths, including children, as well as what he called systemic injustice in the West Bank.
The singer said he was still trying to understand the complex situation and hoped to find ways of contributing to efforts that could assist victims.
Promoters Made The Call, Sheeran Says
Sheeran also told concertgoers that the decision to remove Macklemore from the tour was made by promoters rather than by him.
The controversy has affected the US leg of the tour, with some support acts withdrawing in solidarity with Macklemore. Ticket prices for the Philadelphia show also fell significantly, while some fans reported receiving refunds. Other outlets have tracked how the tour became a flashpoint over the war in Gaza and questions of free speech at concert venues.
Macklemore was removed from the tour after performing a song in support of pro-Palestinian protesters and referring to the situation in Gaza as “genocide”, a description rejected by Israel.
Tour promoter Messina Touring Group said some venues, including Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, would not allow the concerts to proceed if Macklemore performed.
Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft, who is Jewish, separately accused the rapper of hate speech and criticised him for what Kraft described as selective presentation of information about the conflict.
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Despite the controversy, Sheeran told the Philadelphia audience that his concert should remain a space where people with opposing views could come together.
“I am honestly so grateful that you’re here tonight with me,” he said.
“This concert is still a place where everyone is welcome and everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing views.”
He also criticised the idea of venues pre-approving the political content of performers, a remark that drew applause from the audience.
Sheeran’s remaining tour dates are scheduled across North and South America.
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