Ed Sheeran performed alone at his Philadelphia concert on Saturday after all scheduled opening acts withdrew from his U.S. tour in solidarity with rapper Macklemore, who was removed following political remarks made during performances in New Jersey.
The controversy began when Macklemore, during his set at MetLife Stadium on September 4 and 5, delivered a statement that included the phrases ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Free Lebanon, free Cuba, free Congo, free Sudan’, as well as a reference to ‘free all people in America living in fear over this terrorist organization, ICE.’ The remarks prompted complaints from stadium owners, leading to Macklemore’s removal from upcoming tour dates.
In response, all of Sheeran’s scheduled opening acts—Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and his backing band Beoga—announced their withdrawal from the tour. Sheeran confirmed on stage that he had been informed the decision to drop Macklemore was made by the tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, not by him.
During his Philadelphia performance, Sheeran addressed the fallout, stating that the past week had forced him to reassess relationships with family and friends, whom he said had ‘abandoned’ him. He also acknowledged making ‘mistakes’ in handling the situation and expressed concern over venues pre-approving performer content. Sheeran reiterated that his concerts have always aimed to be ‘a safe space for everyone.’
Sheeran’s cousin, Jethro Sheeran, publicly criticized him on social media, calling him ‘not a good person’ and accusing him of ‘selfish’ behavior. The criticism was echoed by others, including TV chef Nadiya Hussain, who shared a video accusing Sheeran of ‘white tears’—a term describing emotional responses perceived as deflecting accountability during discussions of oppression.
On stage, Sheeran read a statement from an autocue, calling the situation in Gaza ‘catastrophic and unjustifiable’ and describing Hamas’s October 7 attacks as ‘horrific.’ He also reiterated his stance that his shows are ‘not political,’ though he acknowledged the controversy had placed him at the center of a debate over freedom of speech and the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Sheeran confirmed that ticket sales for the Philadelphia show remained strong, with him telling the crowd: ‘I see 50,000 people who haven’t abandoned me.’ He also stated that he had been convinced to continue the tour after observing increased ticket purchases.
The fallout has raised questions about venue policies regarding performer content and the role of artists in political discourse. Critics have accused Sheeran of ‘bowing to the mob’ for altering his tour in response to the controversy, while supporters argue he was responding to external pressure beyond his control.
Sheeran has not publicly commented on the specific political statements made by Macklemore but emphasized his commitment to keeping his concerts ‘a safe space for everyone.’