Ed Sheeran has set out his stance on Israel and Gaza as he resumed his tour in Philadelphia following the removal of Macklemore, whose comments in support of Palestine triggered a wider fallout among the opening acts.
Speaking at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday night, the British singer said he would continue with his own tour despite a number of performers withdrawing in solidarity with Macklemore and Palestine.
“What happened in Israel at 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,” Sheeran told the audience, according to footage shared online by a concertgoer.
He added: “My heart has been 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.”
The remarks came after pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the Philadelphia concert before Sheeran took to the stage.
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, had spoken in support of a free Palestine during an appearance at MetLife Stadium earlier this month. He later claimed on Instagram that Sheeran had told him Robert Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium through the Kraft Group, had objected to his participation.
Macklemore alleged that Kraft had persuaded other stadium owners to issue an ultimatum: if he remained on the tour, Sheeran would not be allowed to perform at their venues.
Sheeran said in his own statement on Instagram on Tuesday that removing Macklemore had not been his decision, but that of the promoter.
“I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living,” he said.
The dispute has drawn criticism from other musicians, including Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, who criticised Sheeran on social media for not opposing the decision.
Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother, also withdrew from scheduled appearances on upcoming dates, saying that “artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed”.
Other tour openers to pull out include Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Sheeran’s long-standing backing folk band, Beoga.
