Ed Sheeran plays first concert since Macklemore controversy
British singer Ed Sheeran is performing his first show since facing backlash over a controversial decision to drop rapper Macklemore from his tour.
The decision – which Sheeran said was made by his promoter, not by himself – stemmed from pro-Palestinian comments Macklemore made on stage earlier this month.
Sheeran addressed the controversy at the start of his set at a Philadelphia stadium on Saturday, saying he had made “mistakes” handling the fallout.
“I have tried in my career not to be a political commentator of any kind, because I want my music and shows to be about unity, not division; about humanity, not politics. But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.”
Sheeran spoke for nearly four minutes at the start of the concert. He described the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks as “horrific”, and also called the situation in Gaza “unjustifiable” in his first in-person remarks on the matter since the controversy erupted.
The ongoing saga from Macklemore’s comments and subsequent removal from the tour led Sheeran’s support acts to drop out, and fans to express frustration.
With no starting acts, Saturday’s concert start time was pushed back to 20:00 local time (00:00 GMT) – nearly three hours later than originally planned.
Fans filled the stadium, but how much they paid appeared to vary vastly depending on if they bought tickets before Macklemore’s comments.
One married couple told the BBC they paid $450 (£335) per ticket. Two ladies told the BBC they got a “deal” for Saturday’s concert after prices dropped as low as $32 a ticket.
Outside the stadium there were a few dozen protestors with flags, but the concert proceeded largely unfettered.
Here’s what to know about the story.
How did the controversy begin?
While performing as the opening act for Sheeran at a concert in early September in New Jersey, Macklemore said: “A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so that I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very, very dear to my heart: Free Palestine.”
The Thrift Shop rapper then performed a song dedicated to pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University. The lyrics are critical of Israel’s military actions in Gaza following the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.
The following night, Macklemore referred to the death toll as a genocide, a claim that Israel rejects.
In response, the Israeli American Council launched a petition demanding his removal from the tour, and the campaign group StopAntisemitism said the musician had ambushed fans with propaganda.
Pop star Pink, who is Jewish, reposted an anti-Macklemore meme and then her own message, explaining her criticism of the rapper’s comments.
Macklemore then posted on Instagram that the media attention “surrounding Pink and what I said” had caused billionaire stadium owner Robert Kraft to call Sheeran.
“Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium,” Macklemore wrote of Kraft, who also owns the New England Patriots American football team.
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Concert promoter Messina Touring Group said Macklemore was dropped because some venues – such as Kraft’s Gillette Stadium – would cancel Sheeran’s planned concerts if Macklemore remained on the bill.
Kraft, who is Jewish, confirmed he banned the US rapper from performing at Gillette, accusing Macklemore of hate speech and antisemitic rhetoric.
“I agree with Macklemore, too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate,” Kraft said.
Macklemore was removed from Sheeran’s tour on 14 September.
What did Ed Sheeran and Macklemore say?
The rapper said in a lengthy Instagram statement that after a week of “difficult conversations” with Sheeran that ultimately ended “in a place of fundamental disagreement”, he was dropped from the lineup.
Sheeran said the call was made by Messina Touring Group. The Bad Habits and Shape of You singer said he respected “Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes”, adding that while he doesn’t use his own platform for politics, that “doesn’t mean I don’t care” or “support causes in my own, personal way”.
In his statement, Macklemore said he empathised with the difficult position Sheeran was in but criticised the English singer for not taking a stance.
“Taking a side can cost you. Money, brand deals, sponsorships, festivals, private shows, relationships and access. I’ve lost all of those things. But there is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed,” he wrote.
The rapper, who in 2014 apologised for a costume he wore on stage which critics said was anti-Semitic, also addressed the accusations of antisemitism, writing that “one of the most effective ways to enforce silence has been to weaponize the accusation of antisemitism”.
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How have fans reacted
Sheeran fans and ticket holders are torn about the situation. Some have said that without all the supporting acts, the show is no longer what they paid for.
A woman who spoke to the BBC on her way inside the stadium on Saturday said she bought tickets on the resale market after someone put them up for sale.
“Music is music, I’m not here for politics… We have sympathies for the Palestinians… no one should have to go through war,” she said, adding that she did not think other bands dropping out would impact the show.
Damien Given, who is from Northern Ireland and has tickets to Saturday’s show, told the BBC that he felt that Macklemore was treated “very, very wrong” and thought Sheeran was not being transparent with fans.
Given said that Sheeran can’t suddenly say he’s not political because he had previously voiced support for Ukraine after Russia invaded the country.
But another fan named Patti Ann told the BBC that Sheeran was in a “no-win situation”.
“I back [Sheeran] 100% for his decision,” she said. “I feel like he has an obligation and a contract with his venues, and sometimes, financially, you can’t get out of those types of things.”
The controversy has also snowballed into other areas of Sheeran’s career. Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio announced it was removing Sheeran’s music from its playlists because of feedback from listeners who had expressed “disappointment and concern” over his US tour. Sheeran was raised in England but has said he identifies culturally as Irish.
Who were Ed Sheeran’s support acts and why did they pull out?
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Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, Danish band Lukas Graham, American singer-songwriter Finneas, and Irish folk band Beoga quit Sheeran’s tour following Macklemore’s departure.
In a post on Instagram, Rowe thanked Sheeran for the opportunity but said he “cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power” to silence people who criticise Israel’s actions in Gaza. “Free Palestine,”he added.
Lukas Graham similarly thanked Sheeran while expressing support for Palestinians and saying the band cannot “carry on with this tour as things stand”.
Finneas, the brother of pop star Billie Eilish, said artists should “not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed”.
Beoga, which had been serving as Sheeran’s backing band, said they support Macklemore’s message.
There were no opening acts at Sheeran’s conert at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, and there were some empty seats.
Pro-Palestinian groups including Philly Palestine Coalition and Shut Down D&Z organised a small protest near the stadium.
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When are Ed Sheeran’s remaining tour dates?
Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour began in January 2026 with shows in New Zealand and Australia before he moved on to the Caribbean, Central America and South America.
On the US and Canadian leg of the tour, which began in Arizona in June, Sheeran has performed in a number of cities including Toronto, Denver, Seattle, Minneapolis and Los Angeles.
After the Philadelphia concert on Saturday, Sheeran has 10 remaining shows in the US through November, including Atlanta and Tampa. He then continues on to South America and wraps up in Mexico in December.
Additional reporting from Gabriela Pomeroy, Steven McIntosh, Brandon Drenon and Mark Savage.
