Ed Sheeran Apologizes Over Macklemore Fallout, Calls Gaza War Unjustifiable

Ed Sheeran apologized to concertgoers in Philadelphia on Saturday and spoke publicly about Gaza for the first time since rapper Macklemore was removed from his U.S. tour, saying he was troubled by the treatment of Palestinians and by the growing role of concert venues in deciding what performers can say onstage.

“I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions and I am making mistakes and I’m so, so sorry,” Mr. Sheeran told the audience at Lincoln Financial Field, where he performed without an opening act after a week of turmoil surrounding his tour.

Mr. Sheeran said the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, was horrific, but described Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.” He also referred to what he called “systemic injustice” in the West Bank, where Israeli settlements have expanded.

His remarks represented a notable shift from comments he made earlier in the week, when he said his audiences did not attend his concerts to participate in a political forum. The controversy began after Macklemore said “Free Palestine” during a Sept. 4 performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

A dispute over who made the decision

Macklemore said he was removed from the remaining U.S. dates on Mr. Sheeran’s Loop Tour after venue owners indicated that they would not host shows with him in the lineup. The tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, confirmed that Macklemore would no longer perform on the remaining dates.

Macklemore said New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft had told Mr. Sheeran that Macklemore would not be permitted to perform at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts if he remained on the tour. Mr. Kraft has said he believes Macklemore crossed a line in his comments and described his own efforts as part of a broader fight against antisemitism. Macklemore has rejected accusations of antisemitism.

The dispute quickly spread beyond the two musicians. Several supporting acts withdrew from the tour after Macklemore’s departure, including Beoga, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Finneas. AP reported that the Philadelphia concert began with Mr. Sheeran alone onstage before other musicians joined him later in the performance.

Mr. Sheeran said he was “deeply worried” about venues vetting performers’ content, arguing that such decisions risk turning commercial concert spaces into places where artists’ political expression is subject to approval.

“This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world,” he said.

His next scheduled U.S. performance is at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Sept. 25.

The controversy reaches the concert audience

Outside the Philadelphia stadium, pro-Palestinian protesters gathered before the concert to draw attention to conditions in Gaza and to support organizations advocating for Palestinians. Inside, audience members expressed differing views about whether political statements belonged at a concert.

Some fans interviewed by Reuters said they supported both performers and wanted the dispute kept separate from the music. Others objected to ‘s political comments.

The controversy has also generated financial pledges. Macklemore said he would donate $1 million in net earnings from the tour to organizations supporting Palestinians. A spokesperson for Kraft and Sheeran said each agreed to donate $2 million for humanitarian relief, although details of the donations had not been specified.

For Mr. Sheeran, however, the dispute has become larger than the fate of one opening act. His Philadelphia remarks placed him publicly between two competing expectations: his stated desire to keep his concerts centered on music and unity, and the demands of a political and humanitarian crisis that has increasingly entered the cultural sphere.