Ed Sheeran admits ‘mistakes’ at first concert since Macklemore tour row

Ed Sheeran has addressed crowds in the United States (PA) PA Wire Nick Lester 2 minutes ago Ed Sheeran admitted he “made mistakes” and condemned the “catastrophic” situation in Gaza as he opened his first US concert since controversy erupted over Macklemore’s removal from his tour.

Support acts and the backing band for the star’s current The Loop tour dropped out of the remaining dates after the US rapper, real name Benjamin Haggerty, was removed from the line-up following comments about the conflict in Gaza.

Taking to the stage solo at Lincoln Financial Field Stadium in Philadelphia on Saturday night, Sheeran said: “I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes and I’m so, so sorry for them.

“I don’t want to disappoint fans, and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet.”

US rapper Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour line-up over comments he made about Gaza (Anthony Anex/Keystone via AP) AP The English singer said he had tried in the past not to be a “political commentator” because he wanted his shows to be about “unity”.

“But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide about how I feel about it anymore,” he said.

“What happened in Israel and at the Nova music festival on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain.

“What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate. My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilian’s lives, children’s lives. And the systemic injustice we are seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.”

Getting emotional, Sheeran told concertgoers: “I am honestly so grateful that you’re here tonight with me.

“This concert is still a place where is welcome and everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing views.”

Ahead of the concert, attendees said they were sticking by the English musician.

James Webber IV from Scranton in Pennsylvania said: “I stand with Ed. I think there’s a time for politics and a music concert is not one of those places.”

His father, James Webber III, said: “Everything will be fine. In a couple of months this will blow over. He doesn’t deserve this.

Ed Sheeran fans support singer at first concert since Macklemore tour row