Ed Sheeran admits 'mistakes' at first show since Macklemore controversy

September 20, 2026

Ed Sheeran opened his Philadelphia concert by apologizing to fans for "mistakes" following controversy over his promoters dropping Macklemore from the tour after the rapper made pro-Palestinian statements on stage. The British singer, who previously avoided political commentary, emotionally addressed the Israel-Palestine conflict, calling the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks "horrific" while describing Gaza's situation as "catastrophic and unjustifiable. " All support acts have quit the tour, and ticket sales have declined sharply, with some prices dropping to $32 despite his previous tour being among the highest-grossing ever.

Who is affected

Ed Sheeran (primary subject facing backlash)
Macklemore (dropped from tour as opening act)
All of Sheeran's support acts (quit the tour)
Concert attendees and ticket-holders
Messina Touring Group and Ticketmaster (promoters/ticketing company)
Pro-Palestinian protesters outside the venue
Palestinian people (referenced in context)
Jewish people and Israeli victims (referenced in context)

What action is being taken

Ed Sheeran is continuing his Loop Tour with scheduled shows throughout North and South America
Ed Sheeran is working out how to contribute to help "victims of these terrible times"
Some fans are obtaining ticket refunds (though not officially confirmed by Ticketmaster or Messina Touring Group)
Protesters are demonstrating outside concert venues

Why it matters

This controversy represents a significant crisis for Ed Sheeran, who built his career on being apolitical and unifying, forcing him into the politically divisive Israel-Palestine debate. The incident raises important questions about artistic freedom of speech, venue censorship through content "pre-approval," and whether artists can or should remain neutral on humanitarian issues. The dramatic impact on ticket sales and tour operations demonstrates how political stances can affect commercial success, even for mega-stars whose previous tours were among the highest-grossing of all time.

What's next

Remaining tour dates are scheduled with shows set throughout North and South America
Sheeran stated he is "listening and learning" about the conflict

Read full article from source: BBC