Ed Sheeran apologised to fans for his "mistakes" at the opening of his first concert since Macklemore was dropped as his Loop Tour support act over pro-Palestine remarks, calling Israel's war in Gaza "catastrophic and unjustifiable." All remaining opening acts quit in solidarity with Macklemore, and venues including Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft had refused to host him.
Opening the Philadelphia show, Sheeran addressed the controversy that has engulfed his Loop Tour. "I never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about free speech and the most complex political issue on the planet," he said. He told the emotional crowd he had "had to take and make difficult decisions — and I am making mistakes — and I'm so, so sorry." He described the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks as "horrific", while calling the situation in Gaza "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate."
Macklemore was removed last month after calling for a "free Palestine" and performing his protest song "Hind's Hall" at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Promoter Messina Touring Group said venues had refused to host the shows if he performed; Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots, confirmed he had banned the rapper, accusing him of "hate speech." Macklemore later alleged that Sheeran told him Kraft had mobilised other NFL owners with an ultimatum: drop Macklemore or be blocked from their stadiums. Sheeran has insisted the decision came from tour organisers rather than him, and that he tried to find a resolution; he said he was "deeply worried" by venues "pre-approving" performers.
The fallout cascaded. The remaining opening acts — Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Beoga — all quit in solidarity with Macklemore, leaving Sheeran to perform without openers. Protests gathered outside venues and some resale ticket prices fell sharply, with tickets reported as low as $32. Macklemore has since announced his own "Free Palestine" tour, beginning in Dublin, Paris and London next month, with proceeds to be donated to organisations supporting the Palestinian people. "Being apolitical during a genocide doesn't work anymore," he said. Israeli officials have strongly denied their actions in Gaza amount to genocide, saying they are justified as self-defence.
The row has become a test case for how arenas handle onstage speech: who gets to decide which words a support act may say, and what it costs when they are silenced. Sheeran's apology — the most political statement of his career from a singer who has long avoided taking sides — suggests he knows the audience will remember how this chapter was handled long after the Loop Tour ends.