Ed Sheeran Apologizes, Calls Gaza 'Unjustifiable' in Philly

PHILADELPHIA – Pop superstar Ed Sheeran apologized to fans for “making mistakes” and called the situation in Gaza “catastrophic and unjustifiable” during a concert Saturday, September 20, 2026, at Lincoln Financial Field. Sheeran’s remarks followed the removal of opening act Macklemore from the tour due to pro-Palestinian statements.

Macklemore was dropped from the tour after declaring “Free Palestine” during a performance in New Jersey. He had stated that criticism of Israel was not a criticism of Jewish people.

Sheeran told the audience he had made difficult decisions and regretted them. “I am making mistakes and I’m so, so sorry,” he said. He noted his usual avoidance of political commentary, stating, “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 and the most complex political issue on the planet.”

Referencing the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre at the Nova Music Festival as “horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain,” Sheeran added, “What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate. My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and the loss of civilians' lives, of children's lives.”

Macklemore announced his removal from the tour Monday, September 15, 2026, attributing it to his “Free Palestine” stance.

Sheeran clarified in a social media post that his promoter, Messina Touring Group, made the decision to remove Macklemore. “Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me,” Sheeran stated. He added that upcoming venues threatened to cancel shows if Macklemore remained.

Messina Touring Group confirmed to ABC News that venues would not permit Macklemore to perform, which would have resulted in the tour’s cancellation and affected thousands of fans. Macklemore was subsequently removed from the remaining support dates.