Ed Sheeran breaks down onstage, says he felt ‘abandoned’ amid Palestine row

Philadelphia, September 21 — Ed Sheeran broke down during his concert after discussing the fallout from the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from his tour, deeming it the toughest week of his life. The Sun reported that Sheeran told the 50,000-strong audience he felt abandoned by friends, family and long-standing acquaintances amid calls for him to cancel his Loop Tour.

He disclosed that numerous individuals had urged him to call off the tour, but he continued after observing stable ticket sales for the Philadelphia show. Sheeran recounted that despite numerous people backing away, including those he had known for years, ticket sales remained unaffected, reinforcing his decision to proceed. He emphasized that the 50,000 attendees had not abandoned him, assuring them that he was performing for them, expressing his love and appreciation.

The singer acknowledged the broader dispute over Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian comments during performances, which led to the removal of his other support acts and backing band in solidarity. Sheeran expressed uncertainty about continuing his music career following the turmoil, quickly assembling a new backing band with only three days for them to learn his songs.

He also shortened the B-stage used in previous shows to minimize potential safety risks, such as audience members throwing objects. During the concert, Sheeran addressed the Israel-Palestine conflict for the first time, revealing he had never intended to be an activist musician but felt compelled to speak out about the humanitarian crisis.

He described the October 7 attack in Israel as horrific and the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate,” while highlighting the civilian casualties and children killed in the conflict. Sheeran also addressed systemic injustice in the West Bank, emphasizing that it could not be ignored. The controversy escalated after Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft barred Macklemore from the venue due to his “Free Palestine” comments, with Sheeran later clarifying that the decision to remove Macklemore from the tour was made by the promoter.

Additionally, support acts Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and Finneas, along with Sheeran’s backing band Beoga, withdrew from the tour in Macklemore’s support. Earlier in the week, Sheeran’s cousin Jethro criticized him online, calling him a “coward” and a “bad human.”