{
  "id": 8581368,
  "title": "Ed Sheeran says Gaza situation ‘unjustifiable’ after pro-Palestinian Macklemore booted from tour",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-says-gaza-situation-unjustifiable-after-pro-palestinian",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T01:03:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Times of Israel",
    "slug": "the-times-of-israel",
    "url": "https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-september-20-2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Ed Sheeran addressed the controversy surrounding his tour at a concert in Philadelphia on Saturday. The English singer-songwriter had dropped opening act Macklemore after the rapper made pro-Palestinian comments onstage, leading to the rest of the supporting acts withdrawing from the tour in solidarity. Sheeran told the crowd that he had made \"difficult decisions\" and \"mistakes\" in the past week, and that he had traditionally stayed out of politics.\n\nSheeran expressed his views on the Israel-Hamas war, referencing the massacre at the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023, which he described as \"horrific\" and a compounding of \"centuries of Jewish pain\". According to ABC News, he also stated that the situation in Gaza is \"catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate\". Sheeran said he had \"tried in his career not to be a political commentator of any kind\" but felt compelled to speak out.\n\nDespite the controversy, some fans at the concert expressed their continued support for Sheeran, saying that they separate the music from the politics. According to The Jerusalem Post, one fan, Joy VanRuler, said \"it doesn't need to be political\" and that she supports both Sheeran and Macklemore.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Sky News",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran breaks silence at first concert after Macklemore Palestine row",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-breaks-silence-at-first-concert-after-macklemore-palestine",
        "published": "2026-09-20T01:01:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran addresses Macklemore controversy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-addresses-macklemore-controversy",
        "published": "2026-09-20T01:09:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran addresses Macklemore controversy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-addresses-macklemore-controversy-8575311",
        "published": "2026-09-20T01:09:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran says situation in Gaza is 'catastrophic and unjustifiable' as he opens solo concert",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-says-situation-in-gaza-is-catastrophic-and-unjustifiable",
        "published": "2026-09-20T01:11:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran calls Gaza situation ‘unjustifiable’ after Macklemore exit furore",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-calls-gaza-situation-unjustifiable-after-macklemore-exit",
        "published": "2026-09-20T01:20:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Sheeran says situation in Gaza is 'catastrophic and unjustifiable' at Philly show",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/sheeran-says-situation-in-gaza-is-catastrophic-and-unjustifiable-at",
        "published": "2026-09-20T01:29:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran says what is happening in Gaza is 'catastrophic, unjustifiable'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-says-what-is-happening-in-gaza-is-catastrophic",
        "published": "2026-09-20T02:00:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Billboard",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran Says Situation in Gaza Is ‘Catastrophic and Unjustifiable’ at Philadelphia Tour Stop",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-says-situation-in-gaza-is-catastrophic-and-unjustifiable-8590248",
        "published": "2026-09-20T02:15:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran says situation in Gaza is ‘catastrophic and unjustifiable’ as he opens solo concert",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-says-situation-in-gaza-is-catastrophic-and-unjustifiable-8600994",
        "published": "2026-09-20T03:24:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NPR",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran says situation in Gaza is 'catastrophic and unjustifiable' as he opens solo concert",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-says-situation-in-gaza-is-catastrophic-and-unjustifiable-8599275",
        "published": "2026-09-20T03:34:12.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}