Ed Sheeran Says “What Is Happening in Gaza Is Catastrophic” While Addressing Macklemore Backlash During Philadelphia Tour Stop

Ed Sheeran addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the removal of Macklemore from his Loop Tour during Saturday’s stop in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Stadium.

“This is not usually how I would open the show, but before I play some songs tonight, I hope it’s okay if I say a few words about this last week. I’m 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, and to be honest, I’m surprised,” he began. “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.” Related Stories Music Melissa Barrera Says It's "Beautiful" to See Macklemore Receive Support After Ed Sheeran Tour Firing: "I Didn't Get That When It Happened to Me" Music Macklemore Alleged to Have Repeated Palestine Comments Despite Promoter Assurances to NFL Stadium Owners (Report)

Sheeran continued, “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. My concerts have always been a safe space for everyone, and that matters hugely to me. Honoring my commitment to my fans is also completely essential to who I am, and that is why I’m here tonight on my own and continuing my current tour.”

The “Thinking Out Loud” singer said he was “deeply worried about the idea that venues pre-approve content for performance.” He added, “This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.”

Sheeran continued, “Now, I want to address the question of where I stand in the situation in Israel and Palestine.”

“I am trying 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. But, this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore,” he said. “What happened in Israel and at the Nome Museum Festival on October 7th was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable, and disproportionate. Our hearts can be broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians’ lives, of children’s lives, and the systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.”

He added, “I am already speaking to people across the spectrum to work out how to make a contribution that helps victims of these terrible times, and listening and learning because I do not know enough.”

Sheeran’s comments follow backlash he faced for his decision to remove former opener Macklemore from the 22-city North American leg of his world tour after the rapper showed footage of Gaza and made statements in support of Palestine while performing across two shows at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Sept.