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Ed Sheeran opened the Loop tour’s Philadelphia show on Sunday, 20 September, after the removal of his original U.S. opening act, Macklemore, for making pro‑Palestinian remarks at a previous venue.
During the concert, Sheeran addressed the crowd directly for the first time, admitting that he had made mistakes and expressing his concern that venues should not pre‑approve performers’ content. He said, “I am deeply worried about the idea that venues should pre‑approve content of the performers.”
Sheeran also spoke about the war in Israel and Palestine, describing the events at the Nova music festival on 7 October as “horrific” and stating that the situation in Gaza was “catastrophic, unjustifiable, and disproportionate.” He added that the loss of civilian lives, especially children, was “heart‑breaking.”
The decision to drop Macklemore was made by the tour promoter after complaints from several stadium owners. Macklemore had previously performed a “Free Palestine” statement at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. Following his removal, all four supporting acts and Sheeran’s touring band withdrew from the tour in protest.
Sheeran returned to the stage alone, performing most of the set with a loop pedal. He also invited touring violinist Alicia Enstrom and four other musicians to join him on stage for “Galway Girl.”
Prior to the show, about 50 pro‑Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside the stadium. Some fans, such as Philadelphia resident Hillary Steinberg, expressed disappointment that Sheeran had not taken a clear political stance.
Ticket sales for the Philadelphia concert had fallen to as low as $32 after the controversy, and the venue’s website listed no replacement acts. The show began at 8:00 p.m. local time, delayed from the original 5:30 p.m. start due to the supporting acts’ exit.
Sheeran stated that he does not use his platform for politics and that fans do not expect a political forum at his concerts. He also said he had attempted to negotiate with venue owners to “build a bridge” before Macklemore was removed.
Earlier this week, Macklemore announced a $1 million donation to Palestinian relief efforts and urged New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to match the contribution. Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium, was a vocal critic of Macklemore and led the push to remove him from the tour.
Sheeran is scheduled to perform at Gillette Stadium on 25 and 26 September. A spokesperson for Kraft said the stadium owner and Sheeran have each agreed to donate $2 million, though the destination of the funds remains unclear.
Sheeran’s solo performance in Philadelphia marked the first time he had taken the stage alone since the supporting acts’ withdrawal, and he emphasized that his concerts are intended to be a safe space for all fans.
Article and image source: theage.com.au
