{"id":224816,"date":"2026-09-20T04:51:21","date_gmt":"2026-09-20T04:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/ed-sheeran-calls-situation-in-gaza-unjustifiable-in-first-concert-since-macklemore-controversy-nbc-news\/"},"modified":"2026-09-20T04:51:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-20T04:51:21","slug":"ed-sheeran-calls-situation-in-gaza-unjustifiable-in-first-concert-since-macklemore-controversy-nbc-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/ed-sheeran-calls-situation-in-gaza-unjustifiable-in-first-concert-since-macklemore-controversy-nbc-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Ed Sheeran calls situation in Gaza \u2018unjustifiable\u2019 in first concert since Macklemore controversy – NBC News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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PHILADELPHIA \u2014 Ed Sheeran said at his concert Saturday that the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel were \u201chorrific\u201d but that what is happening to civilians in Gaza is \u201ccatastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.\u201d
He expressed his feelings while addressing the packed crowd during the opening of his concert at Philadelphia\u2019s Lincoln Financial Field, the first since since artist Macklemore was controversially removed<\/a> from Sheeran\u2019s \u201cLoop\u201d tour over his pro-Palestinian advocacy.
\u201cThis is a humanitarian issue and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore,\u201d Sheeran said.
Ed Sheeran calls situation in Gaza 'unjustifiable'
The comments followed a week of turmoil for the artist, including protests outside the venue ahead of Saturday\u2019s show.
Macklemore, who had originally been scheduled to open the show, said he was dropped after he made pro-Palestinian remarks during the opening of Sheeran\u2019s tour at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this week. Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Finneas \u2014 who were scheduled to open various dates during the remainder of the \u201cLoop\u201d tour \u2014 withdrew in protest of<\/a> Macklemore\u2019s removal. Beoga, Sheeran\u2019s house band, also left the tour.
Sheeran said the week brought him difficult decisions, some of which ended in mistakes. \u201cI am so, so sorry,\u201d he said.
\u201cI\u2019ve never wanted to be an activist musician,\u201d Sheeran said, \u201cbut 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.\u201d
More than 73,000 people have been killed in Gaza during Israel\u2019s military campaign, including at least 1,200 since a fragile ceasefire<\/a> took effect in October, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Israel launched its offensive in the Gaza Strip after the Hamas-led attacks<\/a> on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023,<\/a> in which about 1,200 people were killed and roughly 250 others were taken hostage.<\/a>
Sheeran also expressed worry about the idea that venues could \u201cpre-approve content\u201d for artists but said he would continue to perform on his current tour dates because honoring his commitment to fans is paramount.
The controversy over Macklemore\u2019s stance fired up demonstrators who support the plight of people in the Gaza Strip amid warfare between Israel and Hamas militants.
Ahead of Saturday\u2019s concert, dozens of people gathered at Pattinson Avenue and Broad Street, just outside the stadium, to participate in a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
Demonstrators shouted \u201cFree, free Palestine\u201d in unison as motorists honked their horns in support.
Robert Boucher, 73, a retired surgeon, said he was there to take a stand for freedom of speech.
\u201cThe action that\u2019s been taken by the stadium owners and folks who oppose Macklemore and what he represents and the comments that he\u2019s made, that\u2019s really an unjustifiable attempt to squelch free speech,\u201d Boucher said.
The Philadelphia resident asserted that his criticism is of the Israeli government and its treatment of civilians in Gaza, not a stance against Jewish people.
\u201cWe\u2019re here to specifically support our right to say the things that we\u2019re saying and to not be labeled as antisemites or anti-Israel,\u201d he said.
Gwen Myrick, 51, of West Philadelphia, said she supports Macklemore\u2019s stand.
\u201cI am here in support of Macklemore,\u201d she said. \u201cBecause that is how a movement is born \u2014 standing up for the people who are brave enough to stand up.\u201d
The protest followed a weeklong controversy that began after Macklemore voiced support for Palestinians<\/a>. He accused Robert Kraft<\/a>, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, of organizing a boycott among stadium owners in response, an allegation Kraft did not deny.
In a statement, Kraft, a staunch supporter of Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the decision was not intended to stifle Palestinian advocacy or diminish Palestinian suffering but to ensure a \u201cwelcoming environment\u201d at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Macklemore had been scheduled to open two \u201cLoop\u201d tour dates there later this month.
Sheeran said previously<\/a> that the company promoting his tour made the final decision to drop Macklemore because it held the rapper\u2019s contract.
Messina Touring Group did not respond to multiple requests for comment from NBC News. The promoter told Rolling Stone<\/a> that it had been informed that multiple venues \u201cwill not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup,\u201d resulting in his removal.
Macklemore had been scheduled to open Saturday\u2019s show in Philadelphia. Instead, the protesters outside Lincoln Financial Field repeated some of the same pro-Palestinian remarks that Macklemore said led to his removal.
Adi Chattopadhyay, who said he helped organize the demonstration, said Sheeran could halt criticism by donating money to Palestinian-related causes.
\u201cSend that money to families in Gaza,\u201d he said. \u201cWill he support the innocent people of Gaza who have been bombarded? Will he actually do something?\u201d
Macklemore has pledged to donate $1 million<\/a>, which he said represented all of the net earnings from Sheeran\u2019s tour, to six organizations supporting Palestinians. Kraft later pledged $2 million<\/a> toward causes supporting people impacted by the war in Gaza to match a similar donation made by Sheeran.
On Saturday, Sheeran told fans at his show that he\u2019s spoken to \u201cpeople across the spectrum to work out how to make a contribution that helps victims of these terrible times.\u201d
Despite the controversy, fans inside the <\/strong>stadium said they were excited to watch Sheeran\u2019s performance, and weren\u2019t bothered by the lack of opening act.
Friends Karen Mossop, 59, and Karen Macort, 62, said they were there to experience only one artist \u2014 Sheeran.
Mossop defended Sheeran and said he just \u201cgot caught up in a really negative campaign.\u201d
\u201cBecause he\u2019s a really nice guy, he didn\u2019t realize the ramifications of what would happen,\u201d she said.
Mossop also questioned the professionalism of the artists who dropped out.
\u201cIt\u2019s a shame that the opening acts quit,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019re supposed to be professionals, and they should have acted professionally.\u201d
Alexandria Rasa, 27, of neighboring New Jersey, said she was excited to experience her second Sheeran concert.
\u201cI just really came for Ed Sheeran,\u201d Rasa said. \u201cI don\u2019t really care about his opening acts, so that didn\u2019t really affect me.\u201d
Friend Hannah Luster, 26, also of New Jersey, was focused on the task at hand \u2014 basking in the music.
\u201c[I\u2019m] definitely going to enjoy it, probably going to take a video or two,\u201d she said.
Dale Dietrich, 46, and his friend, Jeanine Fusik, 47, were hoping that Taylor Swift, who has been known to join Sheeran on stage, and vice-versa, might appear with him Saturday night.
\u201cEd needs to be rescued,\u201d Dietrich said, referring to fallout from Macklemore\u2019s departure, \u201cand there\u2019s probably one person that can really do it.\u201d
Sheeran did not appear to need saving once the show got underway, though. But he did address the absence of his normal \u201cB stage,\u201d saying it was missing \u201cbecause I was afraid of what might happen if I stood in the middle, and I will admit that.\u201d
Sheeran spent much of his time on stage as a one-man band \u2014 a style fans will recognize from past performances \u2014 letting his vocals, instruments and loop pedal command the stadium crowd. But he also got some backup after calling a friend for last-minute help.
The fill-in musicians \u2014 a drummer, keyboardist, bassist, guitarist and violinist \u2014\u00a0had three days to learn the songs, Sheeran said, and he thanked them for their support.
He seemed most grateful to the audience at Lincoln Financial Field.
\u201cToday has honestly been the best show of my life\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve felt so much love from you guys, and I am so grateful.\u201d
The concert ended with fireworks and a crowd on its feet.
Nicole Acevedo reported from Philadelphia, and Dennis Romero from San Diego.<\/em>
Nicole Acevedo is a news reporter for NBC News.
Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
© 2026 NBCUniversal Media, LLC<\/p>\n

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