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British pop star Ed Sheeran addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding his North America Loop Tour during a concert at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday. Speaking to the audience as his tour resumed, Sheeran described the situation in Gaza as catastrophic, unjustifiable, and disproportionate.
The remarks follow a period of turmoil for the tour, which saw the removal of opening act Macklemore after the rapper made pro-Palestine comments during a performance in New Jersey earlier this month. The decision to drop Macklemore drew criticism from various quarters, with some accusing the tour of silencing political expression. Sheeran has denied personal involvement in the decision, attributing the move to the tour promoter.
The controversy led to the departure of all four of Sheeran’s supporting acts, including musician Finneas, who cited their support for Palestinians in public statements. Finneas stated on Instagram that artists should not be silenced when speaking up for the oppressed.
The concert in Philadelphia proceeded with Sheeran performing solo, resulting in a two-and-a-half-hour delay to the scheduled start time. Outside the venue, approximately 50 demonstrators gathered to protest, waving Palestinian flags and chanting in support of Palestine. Some ticket holders expressed disappointment with the situation, while other attendees told reporters they preferred to focus on the music rather than the political controversy.
Article source: www.aljazeera.com | Image credit: www.aljazeera.com
