Ed Sheeran opened his solo concert in Philadelphia and, on the occasion, apologised to fans for what he described as 'mistakes'. At the concert, he addressed the controversy that had engulfed his tour, which began in September.
The controversy erupted after the rapper Macklemore was removed from the tour following pro-Palestinian statements made on stage earlier in September. Macklemore had performed a song dedicated to pro-Palestinian protesters and mentioned 'genocide' in Gaza, a description rejected by Israel. He also stated that his criticism of Israel was not intended as criticism of 'my Jewish brothers and sisters'. The Messina Touring Group stated that Macklemore was removed because venues such as Boston's Gillette Stadium had refused to allow the concerts to take place if he performed. Robert Kraft, the owner of the Gillette Stadium and the American football team the New England Patriots, confirmed that he had banned Macklemore from performing at the upcoming concerts by the British singer. Kraft, who is Jewish, accused the American rapper of hate speech and stated that Macklemore 'is sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas'.
Sheeran stated that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by his promoter, not by him. He emphasised that he had never wanted to be a politically active musician and that throughout his career he had sought not to be a political commentator of any kind. The attacks of 7 October 2023 were described by him as 'horrific', and the situation in Gaza as 'unjustifiable'. He added that what had happened in Israel during the attack on 7 October was 'horrific and had piled up centuries of Jewish pain', while what was happening in Gaza was 'catastrophic, unjustifiable and disproportionate to the [protests]'. He added that his heart was broken by the scale of destruction and the loss of civilian lives, and that the systemic injustice occurring in the West Bank could not be ignored. He stated that this was a humanitarian issue and that he could no longer hide how he felt, that he was trying to work out how to contribute by helping the victims of these tragic times, and that he was listening and learning because he did not know enough.
Several artists had left the tour. Support, including from Irish singer and songwriter Aaron Rowan and Danish musician Lukas Graham and his backing band Beo, had left the tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Artists claimed that his removal represented a chilling effect on freedom of speech.
The price of tickets fell, and sales dropped for the remaining part of his North American leg of the tour. Some ticket prices for this concert fell to $32 (£24). Fans reported that they could receive a refund for their tickets, but Ticketmaster and the concert promoter, Messina Touring Group, did not confirm that refunds were being paid. Some protesters waved flags outside the venue, and the concert proceeded largely without incident. One couple who had paid $450 (£335) per ticket said they respected Macklemore's right to free expression. Two women said they had received a 'good deal' for the Saturday concert after the prices fell. One family allowed their two young teenage daughters, Victoria (15) and Sadie (13), to be interviewed, and they answered the question about the controversy and Macklemore's removal by saying: 'Who is Mack?'. The protester who gave the name Cooper said he had come to support the Palestinian people's struggle and that more people should be like Mack and other artists who have a voice and a public platform. He said that the best scenario at the concert would be for Sheeran to apologise, but that he was not optimistic.
Sheeran said that his concerts were always a safe space for everyone and that he was committed to his fans, which is why he returned to the stage. He said that the concert was still a place where everyone was welcome and where everyone could stand by people with opposing views. He did not agree with the idea that venues should 'pre-approve' content or performers. He concluded by saying that he hoped his concert could be a place where everyone could gather regardless of their beliefs. Sheeran's remaining tour dates are scheduled across North and South America.
