Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Ed Sheeran on Saturday used his first show since Macklemore was removed from the tour to slam Israel’s violence in Gaza and the occupied West Bank as “unjustifiable.”
“What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate,” Sheeran told the crowd during his Philadelphia show on Saturday.
“Our hearts have been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians’ lives, children’s lives, and the systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.”
The statement was an unusual move for the Shape of You singer, who had previously maintained an apolitical stance. It came in the wake of a conflict that saw rapper Macklemore removed from the tour over pro-Palestinian comments.
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Macklemore had declared “Free Palestine” at a New Jersey concert this month, drawing backlash from owners of US stadiums hosting future dates of Sheeran’s Loop Tour.
The British artist, 35, has denied being behind the decision to remove the rapper, instead blaming the tour promoter. His wishy-washy stance was widely criticized and numerous supporting acts walked out of the tour and issued public statements in support of Macklemore and Palestine.
“I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so, so sorry,” an emotional Sheeran told his audience, who responded with cheers.
As the show was coming to an end, Sheeran said that this week had been the “hardest of my life” and that he had been afraid people would “throw things” at him.
Thanking the audience for their support, he called this show the “best night” of his life and shed some tears.
The singer said he was “deeply worried” about the idea of venues pre-approving the content of performances, explaining: “This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.”
