Ed Sheeran breaks silence on Macklemore exit row, clarifies Israel-Palestine stance

Singer Ed Sheeran addressed the controversy surrounding his Loop Tour as he opened his solo show in Philadelphia, apologising to fans for the “mistakes” made amid the fallout. The singer spoke about the backlash surrounding rapper Macklemore’s removal from the tour following his pro-Palestinian remarks on stage earlier this month, while also clarifying his own stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.Addressing the crowd, the Shape of You singer said, “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.”“I don’t want to disappoint fans, and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet,” he said.In his first in-person remarks since the controversy erupted, Sheeran described the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks as “horrific” and called the situation in Gaza “unjustifiable”. He also addressed questions about whether his decision to continue performing amid the controversy reflected his position on the conflict. “Now, I want to address the question of where I stand in the situation in Israel and Palestine, and whether my doing this concert here tonight implies where I stand,” he said.“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,” he added. The controversy intensified after Macklemore was dropped from the tour following his on-stage comments in support of Palestine. Sheeran has previously said that the decision was made by the tour’s promoters and not by him.The fallout also affected the remaining US leg of the Loop Tour, with ticket prices dropping and sales declining. Several artists also withdrew from the tour amid the controversy.Addressing the uncertainty surrounding the tour, Sheeran told the Philadelphia crowd that he had reached a point where he “didn't know whether this tour would be carrying on” or “whether I even wanted to be an artist at all”. However, he said he returned to the stage because he remained committed to performing for his fans.Sheeran on Israel-Palestine conflictSheeran acknowledged the devastation caused by the conflict while condemning both the October 7 attacks and the ongoing situation in Gaza.“What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain,” Sheeran said.“What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate. My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilian lives, of children’s lives, and this systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked,” he added.The singer said he was trying to understand how he could contribute meaningfully to those affected by the conflict, while acknowledging that he was still learning about the issue.“I’m trying to work out how to make a contribution that helps victims of these terrible times and listening and learning, because I do not know enough,” he said.Sheeran also expressed concern about the idea of venues regulating or approving the content artists perform on stage.“I’m deeply worried about the idea that venues pre-approve content for performance,” he said. “I am honestly so grateful that you're here tonight with me,” he told the audience. “This concert is still a place where everyone is welcome and everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing views,” he added.Why was Macklemore removed from the tour?The controversy began at Sheeran's September 4 concert at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where Macklemore was performing as an opening act. During his set, Macklemore spoke about the situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. He also said “Free Palestine” before performing his protest song, Hind's Hall.Macklemore said his message was about peace, love and ensuring that all human beings were treated with dignity, respect and equality. His remarks triggered backlash from some Jewish and pro-Israel groups. An Israeli-American Council petition subsequently called for Macklemore to be removed from Sheeran's tour.On September 14, Macklemore addressed the controversy publicly after it became known that he would no longer perform on the remaining US dates.- EndsPublished By: Prachi aryaPublished On: Sep 20, 2026 11:53 IST