Ed Sheeran calls situation in Gaza ‘unjustifiable’ in first concert since Macklemore controversy

Sept. 19, 2026, 6:39 PM EDT / Updated Sept. 19, 2026, 8:55 PM EDTPHILADELPHIA — Ed Sheeran said at his concert Saturday that the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel were “horrific” but that the plight of civilians in Gaza is “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.”He expressed his feelings while addressing the crowd during the opening of his one-man concert at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, the first since since artist Macklemore was controversially removed from Sheeran’s “Loop” tour over his pro-Palestinian advocacy. “This is a humanitarian issue and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore,” Sheeran said.The comments followed a week of turmoil for the artist, including protests outside the venue ahead of Saturday’s show.Macklemore, who had originally been scheduled to open the show, said he was dropped after he made pro-Palestinian remarks during the opening of Sheeran’s tour at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this week. He alleged New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft, a staunch supporter of Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, organized a stadium boycott that forced him off the tour.Sheeran said the week brought him difficult decisions, some of which ended in mistakes. “I am so, so sorry,” he said.“I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician,” Sheeran said. “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 expressed worry about the idea that venues could “pre-approve content” for artists but said he would continue to perform on his current tour dates because honoring his commitment to fans is paramount.The controversy over Macklemore’s stance fired up demonstrators who support the plight of people in the Gaza Strip amid warfare between Israel and Hamas militants.Ahead of the concert Saturday, dozens of people gathered at Pattinson Avenue and Broad Street, just outside the stadium, to participate in a pro-Palestinian demonstration.Demonstrators shouted “Free, free Palestine” in unison as motorists honked their horns in support. AFP via Getty Images; APDemonstrators, many covering their faces, shouted “Free, free Palestine” in unison as motorists honked their horns in support.Robert Boucher, 73, a retired surgeon, said he was there to take a stand for freedom of speech.“The action that’s been taken by the stadium owners and folks who oppose Macklemore and what he represents and the comments that he’s made, that’s really an unjustifiable attempt to squelch free speech,” Boucher said.The Philadelphia resident asserted that his criticism is of the Israeli government and its treatment of civilians in Gaza, not a stance against Jewish people.“We’re here to specifically support our right to say the things that we’re saying and to not be labeled as antisemites or anti-Israel,” he said.Gwen Myrick, 51, of West Philadelphia, said she supports Macklemore’s stand.“I am here in support of Macklemore,” she said. “Because that is how a movement is born — standing up for the people who are brave enough to stand up.”Robert Boucher, a retired surgeon, asserted that criticism of the state of Israel for its treatment of civilians in Gaza is not a stance against Jewish people.Nicole Acevedo / NBC NewsThe protest followed a weeklong controversy that began after Macklemore’s opening act performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey two weeks ago, where he voiced support for Palestinians. Macklemore accused Kraft of organizing a boycott among stadium owners in response.Kraft did not deny Macklemore’s allegations. In a statement, he said the decision was not intended to stifle Palestinian advocacy or diminish Palestinian suffering but to ensure a “welcoming environment” at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, which he owns. Macklemore had been scheduled to open two “Loop” tour dates there later this month.Sheeran, right, said previously that the company promoting his tour made the final decision to drop Macklemore, left, because it held the rapper’s contract.Getty ImagesThe rapper had also been scheduled to open Saturday’s show in Philadelphia. Instead, the protesters outside Lincoln Financial Field repeated some of the same pro-Palestinian remarks that Macklemore said led to his removal.Adi Chattopadhyay, who said he helped organize the demonstration, said Sheeran could halt criticism by donating money to Palestinian-related causes.“Send that money to families in Gaza,” he said. “Will he support the innocent people of Gaza who have been bombarded? Will he actually do something?”Macklemore has pledged to donate $1 million, which he said represented all of the net earnings from Sheeran’s tour, to six organizations supporting Palestinians. Kraft later pledged $2 million toward causes supporting people impacted by the war in Gaza to match a similar donation made by Sheeran.Saturday’s performance was Sheeran’s first concert since the controversy erupted and prompted other artists to leave the tour.Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Finneas — who were scheduled to open various dates during the remainder of the “Loop” tour — withdrew in protest of Macklemore’s removal. Beoga, Sheeran’s house band, also left the tour.The artists had previously been listed as supporting performers on Sheeran’s tour website, but their names were removed from the page Thursday.An estimated 7,500 tickets were available before the concert started Saturday, according to ticket price-tracking firm TicketData.Heather Barry / Getty ImagesFans attending Saturday’s concert were notified Friday that the show would begin at 8 p.m., rather than 5:30 p.m., as originally scheduled.Friends Karen Mossop, 59, and Karen Macort, 62, said they were there to experience only one artist — Sheeran. Mossop defended the artist and said he just “got caught up in a really negative campaign.”“Because he’s a really nice guy, he didn’t realize the ramifications of what would happen,” Mossop said.Though she said she wasn’t bothered by the canceled opening acts, she questioned those artists’ professionalism. “You’re here to see the headliner, not really so much the opening act,” Mossop said. “It’s a shame that the opening acts quit. They’re supposed to be professionals, and they should have acted professionally.”Alexandria Rasa, 27, of neighboring New Jersey, said she was excited to experience her second Sheeran concert and that she also didn’t mind the lack of opening acts. “I just really came for Ed Sheeran,” Rasa said. “I don’t really care about his opening acts, so that didn’t really affect me.”Friend Hannah Luster, 26, also of New Jersey, was focused on the task at hand — basking in the music.“[I’m] definitely going to enjoy it, probably going to take a video or two,” she said.Dale Dietrich, 46, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was standing in the stadium with the hope that Taylor Swift, who has been known to join Sheeran on stage, and vice-versa, might appear with him Saturday night.“Ed needs to be rescued,” he said, referring to fallout from Macklemore’s departure, “and there’s probably one person that can really do it.”Friend Jeanine Fusik, 47, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, agreed. “I am just really hoping, like Dale said, that Taylor comes out on stage to save Ed here,” she said.Macklemore had been scheduled to open Saturday’s show in Philadelphia. Instead, the protesters outside Lincoln Financial Field repeated some of the same pro-Palestinian remarks that the rapper said led to his removal.Nicole Acevedo / NBC NewsThe controversy sent ticket prices for Macklemore’s headlining concert on Oct. 22 at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater outside Denver to $175, up from the $105 price before he was dropped from the Sheeran tour, according to ticket price-tracking firm TicketData.His work as one half of hip-hop’s Macklemore & Ryan Lewis scored two No. 1 hits, including the duo’s 2012 breakout, “Thrift Shop.”Sheeran said previously that the company promoting his tour made the final decision to drop Macklemore because it held the rapper’s contract.Messina Touring Group, the promoter for Sheeran’s tour, did not respond to multiple requests for comment from NBC News. The promoter told Rolling Stone that it had been informed that multiple venues “will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup,” resulting in his removal.The controversy has reignited debate over Israel’s war in Gaza and how entertainers use their platforms to take a public position on it. Sheeran said in a statement Tuesday that he was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine.”“I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict,” he said. “Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care.”Sheeran said he does not use his “professional platform” to discuss politics because audiences attending his concerts “do not expect a political forum.”More than 73,000 people have been killed in Gaza during Israel’s military campaign, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. That figure includes at least 1,273 people killed since a fragile ceasefire took effect in October, according to the ministry. Israel launched its offensive in the Gaza Strip after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and roughly 250 others were taken hostage.Nicole Acevedo reported from Philadelphia, and Dennis Romero from San Diego.