PHILADELPHIA — British singer Ed Sheeran used the opening of his solo concert at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday to address the conflict in Gaza, describing the situation as “catastrophic and unjustifiable” while denouncing the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel as horrific.
The remarks came during a highly contentious week for the musician’s Loop Tour, which has become a flashpoint in debates over freedom of speech and the intersection of art and politics. The controversy intensified after original U.S. opener Macklemore was removed from the tour following a September 5 performance in New Jersey, where he chanted “Free Palestine” from the stage.
Sheeran stated that the decision to drop Macklemore was made at the urging of Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and a stadium operator where the tour was scheduled to perform. Sheeran clarified that he was not responsible for the cancellation decision. Within hours of Sheeran issuing a statement on Tuesday defending the rights of performers to speak out, several supporting acts announced their withdrawal from the tour.
Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe, who had replaced Macklemore, were among those who pulled out. Additionally, Finneas, the brother and frequent collaborator of Billie Eilish, canceled his upcoming appearances in South America.
Although Sheeran typically performs much of his solo shows alone, he was joined by the Irish folk band Beoga for select songs in Philadelphia. Before taking the stage, the singer expressed his desire for his music to serve as a unifying force rather than a political battleground.
“I don’t want to disappoint fans, and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet,” Sheeran told the nearly full stadium.
Outside the venue, a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered. Hillary Steinberg, 34, said she returned her tickets after originally purchasing them a year ago, expressing disappointment that Sheeran had not taken a more definitive stand. “I think all art is political, and all music is political, and so this choice… is a political choice,” Steinberg said.
Conversely, Diane Savitz, 53, who traveled from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, defended the artist. “A concert should be for people enjoying the music. Music should bring people together,” she said, adding that while she supports free speech, she believes concerts are not the appropriate venue for such debates.
In the wake of his removal, Macklemore announced on Wednesday that he is donating $1 million to Palestinian relief efforts and has called on Kraft to match the contribution. A spokesperson for Kraft confirmed that both the billionaire and Sheeran have agreed to donate $2 million each, though specific details regarding the recipients of the funds have not yet been released.
Seems like the whole situation got out of hand quickly. Hard to believe multiple acts quit over one comment.
Wait, did Robert Kraft actually match the donation amounts? That detail about the $2 million seems crucial here.
Why are we even talking about politics at a pop concert? I just want to hear the hits and escape reality.
It is refreshing to see a major artist stand up for free speech principles like this. Respect for Ed.