On Saturday, Ed Sheeran kicked off his solo show in Philadelphia by turning to the audience and speaking directly about the situation in Gaza. He described the situation as “catastrophic and unjustifiable,” and he then addressed the backlash that unfolded after his supporting acts withdrew in support of him.
Before the concert began at Lincoln Financial Field, Sheeran made his position clear, saying that his music and shows are about unity and humanity, not politics. The opening statement marked his view on the conflict.
His Opening Remarks
Sheeran stated that his music and shows are about unity and humanity, not politics. He repeated himself, saying he wants his music and shows to be about unity and humanity, not politics.
He said his fans don’t come to his shows to hear about these issues. He spoke about the scale of devastation and the loss of civilian and children’s lives, saying it had broken his heart.
The comments came during a solo performance.
The Withdrawals
Macklemore, Sheeran’s original U.S. opener, was dropped after exclaiming “Free Palestine” during a Sept. 5 show in New Jersey. Sheeran has said he was not responsible for the decision, which came at the urging of a New England Patriots owner.
Within hours of Sheeran’s statement Tuesday, his supporting acts withdrew.
Sheeran’s South American tour has lost two of his scheduled band members, with both Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe backing out. Finneas, who serves as Billie Eilish’s brother and collaborator, was set to join the trip. He dropped out earlier this week as well.
By Saturday afternoon, tickets for the show were still on sale, and Sheeran’s website was not advertising any replacement or substitute acts.
The Protest Outside
About 50 people who support the Palestinian cause gathered outside the stadium before the performance began. One person who attended said she had bought tickets almost a year earlier but instead got her money back so she could join the protest.
Hillary Steinberg, 34, of Philadelphia, said she was, until this week, a big Ed Sheeran fan. Steinberg said she thought all art and music is political, and that Sheeran’s choice to continue the tour is a political one, even if he says he was not complicit.
Diane Savitz, 53, a concertgoer from Stroudsburg, said she does not think Sheeran did anything wrong or that a concert is the place for politics. Savitz said she was there for the music and that music should bring people together.
Who Made the Call
The decision to drop Macklemore was not made by Sheeran, but came at the urging of Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots. Robert Kraft’s company owns a stadium where Sheeran’s tour was scheduled to play on Friday.
On Wednesday, Macklemore announced a $1 million donation to support Palestinian relief efforts and urged Kraft to match it. A spokesperson for Kraft confirmed that both the billionaire and Sheeran have each committed to giving $2 million, though neither has named where the money will be directed.
The tour promoter was ultimately responsible for the decision, according to Sheeran. He said he spoke with the venues at length all week to build a bridge before Macklemore was dropped.
The Stakes of the Tour
Pollstar reported that Sheeran’s Loop Tour held the top spot as the most lucrative tour in the world, with an average gross exceeding $7 million per city. As of the end of 2025, Sheeran stood as the No. 3 top-earning concert act since 2021.
The singer said his fans don’t attend his shows to hear about these matters. He insisted he would never leave behind the touring crew or others who depend on him to earn a living.
Who Backed Out
| Party | Position |
|---|---|
| Robert Kraft | Urged the drop of Macklemore |
| Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe | Backed out of the tour |
| Finneas | Backed out of the South America shows |
| Hillary Steinberg | Calls Sheeran’s choice a political one |
| Diane Savitz | Does not think Sheeran did anything wrong |
Experts on the Situation
Despite promoters and venues holding considerable power over concert tours, experts say that an artist of Sheeran’s stature generally has the last word when it comes to the shows themselves. Much of Sheeran’s Loop Tour performances have been carried out solo, and he has maintained that his music is about unity and humanity rather than politics.
No response has come from Sheeran’s representatives, who have not answered repeated requests for comment. As of Saturday afternoon, the lineup for the festival is still incomplete, and no word has been given on which acts, if any, will take the place of the withdrawing artists.
Source material: “Ed Sheeran says situation in Gaza is 'catastrophic and unjustifiable' as he opens solo concert,” ABC7 New York.
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