Ed Sheeran addressed the controversy surrounding rapper Macklemore’s removal from his tour during a Sept. 19 performance in Philadelphia, admitting he had made ‘mistakes,’ according to BBC and T-Online. The singer acknowledged the difficult week he had faced and the impact it had on his team, saying, ‘I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes and I’m so, so sorry.’

Controversy Over Macklemore’s Removal

Macklemore was removed from Sheeran’s tour by the tour promoter due to his pro-Palestinian statements, which led to the other planned supporting acts canceling their participation. Macklemore had raised ‘Free Palestine’ chants and performed his pro-Palestinian song ‘Hind’s Hall’ at a previous show, according to T-Online.

Sheeran, who performed solo in Philadelphia after losing his backing musicians, said he never intended to be an ‘activist musician’ but found himself at the center of a ‘passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet,’ as reported by usatoday.com. He added that his concerts are meant to be ‘a safe space for everyone,’ and he honored this commitment by continuing his tour ‘on my own.’

Sheeran’s Stance on Israel and Palestine

Sheeran addressed the Israel-Palestine situation directly, saying he had always avoided taking political stances but could no longer remain silent. ‘What happened in Israel on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain,’ he said. He also described the situation in Gaza as ‘catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate’ and expressed heartbreak over the civilian and child casualties in the West Bank.

‘I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore,’ he said, according to BBC. He added that he is working to ‘make a contribution that helps victims of these terrible times’ and is committed to ‘listening and learning’ because ‘I do not know enough.’

Impact on the Concert and Audience Reaction

Sheeran’s emotional speech was met with applause and support from the audience; he emphasized that his concerts are places where ‘everyone is welcome’ and ‘everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing views.’

The singer also criticized the idea that venues would ‘preapprove’ content or performers, which received applause from the crowd. ‘In these situations, you really find out who your friends are, and it’s been a weird week,’ he said, according to BBC. ‘I just feel like it happened very quickly.’

Sheeran concluded the speech by expressing gratitude to the fans for attending the concert and reaffirming that his music and shows are about ‘unity, not division; about humanity, not politics.’