Ed Sheeran Says He Nearly Quit Tour After Macklemore Controversy

Ed Sheeran addressed the Israel-Gaza conflict Saturday at his first Philadelphia “LOOP” tour show since Macklemore’s removal as opener. Visibly emotional, Sheeran told the crowd: “This is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.” He condemned the October 7 Nova Music Festival attack as “horrific” while calling events in Gaza “catastrophic, unjustifiable, and disproportionate.” Sheeran also criticized venue owners controlling performer content, saying it “should never happen in the free world.” All opening acts — FINNEAS, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe — withdrew following Macklemore’s exit. Sheeran performed without a B-stage, admitting he feared crowd hostility. Meanwhile, Macklemore pledged $1 million to Palestinian groups, with Robert Kraft reportedly matching Sheeran’s separate $2 million humanitarian donation.