Ed Sheeran Cries at Philadelphia Show After Dropping Macklemore, Pledges $4 Million Gaza Aid
Updated
Updated · Defector · Sep 21
Ed Sheeran Cries at Philadelphia Show After Dropping Macklemore, Pledges $4 Million Gaza Aid
3 articles · Updated · Defector · Sep 21
Summary
Philadelphia marked Sheeran’s first concert since Macklemore was removed from his U.S. tour, and he used a prepared onstage statement to apologize for “mistakes” before becoming emotional.
Sheeran said venues should not pre-approve performers’ content, even as he defended continuing the tour and described the Israel-Palestine crisis as a humanitarian issue rather than a political one.
In the speech, he called the Oct. 7 Nova festival attack horrific, Gaza’s devastation catastrophic and disproportionate, and West Bank injustice impossible to ignore.
The fallout still surrounds the tour: previous opening acts have exited, protesters gathered outside Philadelphia, and Sheeran is due to play 2 shows next weekend at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
Questions also remain over the announced $4 million donation tied to Sheeran and Robert Kraft, while Macklemore has separately detailed a $1 million gift to 6 groups.