{
  "id": 8591875,
  "title": "Ed Sheeran calls situation in Palestine ‘catastrophic and unjustifiable’ at solo concert",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-calls-situation-in-palestine-catastrophic-and",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T02:40:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hill",
    "slug": "the-hill",
    "url": "https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/6100136-ed-sheeran-calls-situation-in-palestine-catastrophic-and-unjustifiable-at-solo-concert/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Ed Sheeran addressed the controversy surrounding his tour's opening act, Macklemore, at a solo concert in Philadelphia on Saturday. Macklemore was dropped from the US tour after making pro-Palestinian comments on stage. Sheeran apologized to fans for making mistakes and said he has traditionally stayed out of politics.\n\nSheeran referenced the Israel-Hamas war, specifically 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 (US), he also stated that the situation in Gaza is \"catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate\".\n\nThe English superstar said he has been put in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and a complex political issue. He expressed that his heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss. Sheeran has not always wanted to be an activist musician, but recent events have led him to speak out.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "'Catastrophic and unjustifiable': Sheeran addresses Gaza amid Macklemore controversy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/catastrophic-and-unjustifiable-sheeran-addresses-gaza-amid-macklemore",
        "published": "2026-09-20T02:10:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran apologizes for 'making mistakes,' says situation in Gaza 'unjustifiable'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-apologizes-for-making-mistakes-says-situation-in-gaza",
        "published": "2026-09-20T02:23:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran calls Gaza situation ‘unjustifiable’ after Palestine controversy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-calls-gaza-situation-unjustifiable-after-palestine",
        "published": "2026-09-20T03:14:26.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}