A visibly emotional Ed Sheeran teared up on stage last night as he apologised for his handling of the Israel controversy that has engulfed his new tour.
The singer told fans in Philadelphia ‘I cannot hide how I feel… anymore’ as he made an awkward U-turn after previously stating that he was against using his platform for politics.
Bowing to pressure as protestors swarmed outside the concert, Sheeran said he had made ‘mistakes’ and called the situation in Gaza ‘catastrophic and unjustifiable’.
But he then apologised and struggled to hold back tears again at the end of the show for bringing politics to his concert – something he had vowed not to do.
He said at the end of the night: ‘The one thing that I would like to apologise for is the first bit of the show where it wasn’t about music and I had to talk.
‘I understand that people have children here and I understand that families didn’t buy a ticket to hear that first bit of the show, but that was something I felt like I needed to say.’
Sheeran had previously said that ‘those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum’.
The gig at the Lincoln Financial Field marked the first time the star, 35, returned to the stage since the rapper Macklemore was dropped as his opening act after taking a vocal stance in favour of a ‘Free Palestine.’
In a solemn speech at the start of the concert, Sheeran 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 and not division, about humanity and not politics. But this is a humanitarian issue and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.’
‘What happened in Israel at Nova music festival on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain.
A visibly emotional Ed Sheeran teared up on stage last night as he apologised for his handling of the Israel controversy that has engulfed his new tour
Ed Sheeran has made his stance clear on the Israel-Palestine conflict after his Loop Tour fell apart amid Macklemore’s ‘Free Palestine’ comments
It comes as the concert was swarmed by pro-Palestine protestors before he took the stage
‘What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate,’ Sheeran said in a video captured and shared online by a concertgoer.
‘My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians’ lives, of children’s lives, and the systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked,’ he declared.
Sheeran told the audience that he plans to ‘continue my current tour’ despite each of his openers dropping out in solidarity with Macklemore.
By the end of the show, Sheeran broke down into tears telling fans: ‘I’m so grateful.
‘The world is a scary place right now. America is a scary place right now. This gives hope. This gives hope.’
The crowd broke out in applause as Sheeran appeared deeply moved.
‘My shows are about this,’ he said. ‘They are about people coming together that don’t know each other, that have different beliefs. They’re about unity. They’re about love. They’re about family.’
As fans cheered, Sheeran vowed that the controversy would not stop him from performing.
‘You’re jumping around like maniacs with each other and having fun,’ he said. ‘And I will never stop doing this. I will never stop doing this. I love doing this so much.’
It came after Macklemore said Sheeran had spoken to Robert Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts through his holding company, the Kraft Group.
‘Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium. Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues,’ he wrote.
On Tuesday, Sheeran released his own statement on Instagram, saying it wasn’t his decision to remove Macklemore from the tour, but rather the promoter’s.
‘I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living,’ the British singer-songwriter added.
Sheeran said in the lengthy statement that he has ‘personal views on this devastating conflict’, but made the choice ‘not to speak publicly’.
He has faced criticism from other artists, including Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, who bashed him on social media for not taking a stand against the decision.
The 35-year-old singer-songwriter returned to the stage in Philadelphia on Saturday night for the first time since 43-year-old Macklemore, real name Benjamin Haggerty, was axed from the tour; pictured in 2013
Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother, pulled out of his scheduled appearances in upcoming tour dates, stating that ‘artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed’; pictured in November 2025
Activists demanded freedom for Palestine as they gathered outside of Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday night
Billie Eilish’s brother, Finneas, pulled out of his scheduled appearances in upcoming tour dates, stating that ‘artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed’.
Tour openers including Aaron Rowe and the band Lukas Graham, along with Sheeran’s long-time backing folk band Beoga, also withdrew from the endeavor.
In his address to fans on Saturday, Sheeran stated: ‘I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so, so sorry.’
He said: ‘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 in the most complex political issue on the planet.’
The pop star continued: ‘Our concerts have always been a safe space for everyone, and that matters hugely to me. Honoring my commitment to my fans is also completely central to who I am and that is why I’m here tonight, on my own, and continuing my own tour.’
He went on to say: ‘I am deeply worried about the idea that venues’ pre-approved content performance. This happens in so many places that I’ve gone around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.’
