Ed Sheeran has apologised for mistakes in his handling of the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from his Loop Tour, using his first concert since the dispute erupted to publicly address the war in Gaza and concerns over restrictions on performers’ speech.
Sheeran addressed the controversy at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday night, September 19, where he performed without his original opening acts after Macklemore was dropped and other supporting performers withdrew in solidarity. The British singer said he had never intended to become an activist musician but acknowledged that the dispute had placed him at the centre of a wider argument about freedom of expression and the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
“I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions and I am making mistakes and I’m so, so sorry,” Sheeran told the audience.
His remarks represented a significant shift from his response earlier in the week, when he had stressed that his concerts were intended to bring people together rather than become political forums. On Saturday, Sheeran said he could no longer avoid expressing his position on the humanitarian situation.
He described the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel as “horrific” and said it had compounded generations of Jewish suffering. Turning to Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza, Sheeran described the situation as “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate,” while also expressing concern about civilian and child deaths and what he called systemic injustice in the West Bank.
Sheeran also raised concerns about concert venues attempting to vet performers or their content before appearances. The issue became central to the controversy after Macklemore was removed from the remaining US dates of the Loop Tour following his pro-Palestinian remarks during a September 4 performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Macklemore had used the New Jersey stage to declare “Free Palestine,” prompting objections from some venue operators. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose organisation controls Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, subsequently confirmed that Macklemore would not be permitted to perform at Sheeran’s September 25 and 26 concerts there, citing material presented during the rapper’s performances and what Kraft described as a history of offensive rhetoric and imagery. Macklemore has denied accusations of antisemitism and maintains that his criticism is directed at Israeli government policy and its conduct toward Palestinians.
Sheeran previously said the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour promoter after venues indicated they would not host concerts with the rapper on the lineup. The dispute triggered the departure of other supporting performers, including Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Irish folk group Beoga.
