{
  "id": 8635188,
  "title": "Ed Sheeran calls Israel's treatment of Gazans 'unjustifiable,' apologizes for Macklemore controversy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-calls-israels-treatment-of-gazans-unjustifiable-apologizes-8635188",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T07:22:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20260920/ed-sheeran-calls-israels-treatment-of-gazans-unjustifiable-apologizes-for-macklemore-controversy"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Philadelphia — Ed Sheeran, the British pop star, apologized on Saturday for his handling of the recent controversy involving rapper Macklemore's removal as an opening act. Sheeran decried Israel's treatment of residents in Gaza as \"unjustifiable,\" stating that he had to make difficult decisions and had made mistakes. He expressed his apologies to the audience in Philadelphia, where he performed for the first time since Macklemore was removed from the concert tour. Sheeran acknowledged the horrific October 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis but also condemned Israel's subsequent war, which he called \"catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.\" He further criticized the systemic injustice in the West Bank, where Israel's right-wing coalition government has facilitated a massive expansion of Jewish settlements. This marked a significant shift from Sheeran's initial statement on the matter.",
  "summary": "PHILADELPHIA — Pop star Ed Sheeran apologized on Saturday for his handling of a controversy that erupted this week when rapper Macklemore was removed as an opening act over comments on Palestine. Breaking his silence on the issue, the British singer decried Israel's treatment of residents in Gaza as \"unjustifiable.\" \"I've had to take and make difficult decisions and I am making mistakes and I'm…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "'What is happening in Gaza is unjustifiable': Ed Sheeran admits 'mistakes' after Macklemore controversy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/what-is-happening-in-gaza-is-unjustifiable-ed-sheeran-admits-mistakes",
        "published": "2026-09-20T03:38:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Pop star Ed Sheeran says Gaza situation ‘unjustifiable’ following controversy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/pop-star-ed-sheeran-says-gaza-situation-unjustifiable-following",
        "published": "2026-09-20T04:46:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Irish Times",
        "title": "‘We have skin in the game’: TD backs ‘half Irish’ Macklemore after Sheeran ditching",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/we-have-skin-in-the-game-td-backs-half-irish-macklemore-after-sheeran",
        "published": "2026-09-20T05:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran says Gaza situation ‘unjustifiable’ amid ongoing outcry over Macklemore’s ouster",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-says-gaza-situation-unjustifiable-amid-ongoing-outcry-over",
        "published": "2026-09-20T06:50:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "British pop star Ed Sheeran calls Israel's treatment of Gazans 'unjustifiable,' apologises for Macklemore controversy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/british-pop-star-ed-sheeran-calls-israels-treatment-of-gazans",
        "published": "2026-09-20T07:05:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran calls Israel's treatment of Gazans 'unjustifiable,' apologizes for Macklemore controversy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-calls-israels-treatment-of-gazans-unjustifiable-apologizes",
        "published": "2026-09-20T07:12:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CNBC World",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran calls Israel's treatment of Gazans 'unjustifiable,' apologizes for Macklemore controversy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-calls-israels-treatment-of-gazans-unjustifiable-apologizes-8642345",
        "published": "2026-09-20T07:52:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran speaks on Gaza in concert after Macklemore controversy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ed-sheeran-speaks-on-gaza-in-concert-after-macklemore-controversy",
        "published": "2026-09-20T08:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}