British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran apologized for what he called "mistakes" and broke his silence on the Israel-Gaza conflict as he resumed his Loop tour in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, performing solo following a controversy involving rapper Macklemore and Palestinian supporters.
Speaking directly to fans before opening his show, Sheeran said he had never wanted to be "an activist musician" but that the situation had placed him "in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet," adding that the October 7 attacks on Israel and the Nova music festival were "horrific" while describing what is happening in Gaza as "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate." He also warned that venues should never pre-approve the content of performers, saying it "should never happen in the free world."
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Sheeran's show at Lincoln Financial Field marked his first performance since rapper Macklemore announced he had been removed as one of the tour's opening acts after saying "Free Palestine" at a show early this month. The tour's other supporting acts subsequently quit to show solidarity with Macklemore.
Macklemore posted on Instagram this week that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft had told Sheeran that Macklemore would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where Sheeran has shows on September 25 and 26. Kraft said in a statement that Macklemore would not perform at those shows.
