Ed Sheeran broke down in tears on stage Saturday night, apologizing to fans during his first concert since the Macklemore controversy that has thrown his North American tour into chaos.
Walking out onto the stage at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia to rapturous applause, the 35-year-old asked the crowd for a moment before the music began. “Um, this is not usually how I would open the show,” he said, “but before I play some songs tonight, I hope it’s OK if I say a few words about this last week.”
“I’m used to my music being criticized, and I’m always happy to take that,” Sheeran continued, his voice breaking. “But this week, the criticism was about something much more important.” Then came the line that stunned the stadium: “I am making mistakes… and I’m so, so sorry.”
Ed Sheeran Tears Stage Return: The Macklemore Controversy, Explained
Here’s how we got here. On Sept. 14, rapper Macklemore was removed from Sheeran’s Loop Tour after making on-stage “Free Palestine” remarks during his opening set at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month. The “Thrift Shop” artist, 43, said he stood in solidarity with displaced Palestinians in Gaza and performed his 2024 protest song “Hind’s Hall,” named after a 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza.
The remarks drew backlash from pro-Israel groups, with singer Pink notably calling him out. Then the situation escalated: venues notified tour promoter Messina Touring Group that they would not allow Macklemore to perform at upcoming U.S. shows, Rolling Stone reported. The promoter said losing the venues “would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans,” adding that “after discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates.”
Sheeran addressed the firing on Instagram, writing that he is “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine” but is “not complicit.” He said he let Macklemore choose his own set list, and that the issue came down to the way Macklemore “conveyed part of his message.” He said he tried to “build a bridge” between the two sides, but that the final call came from the promoter: “Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me. I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.”
Macklemore has told a different version of events on Instagram. He said he and Sheeran — friends for 13 years who’ve “shared late nights, studio sessions and stages” — had a “painful disagreement” before he was removed. He claimed billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and the Kraft Group (which operates Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts), called Sheeran and said Macklemore “would not be allowed to perform” there later this month. He also claimed Sheeran told him the words “Free Palestine” and an image of the Palestinian flag were “hurtful to a lot of people he spoke with.” Kraft has confirmed he barred Macklemore from Gillette Stadium, accusing the rapper of hate speech, per the BBC.
The fallout spread quickly. Fellow opening acts Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga all dropped out of the tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Macklemore donated his $1 million in tour earnings to Palestinian relief efforts and publicly challenged Kraft to match him; Kraft later pledged $2 million after Sheeran personally called him, Kraft said. Sheeran’s cousin Jethro also posted a scathing Instagram rant labeling the singer “selfish” and “malicious” — personal claims Sheeran has not publicly addressed.
“I’ve Never Wanted to Be an Activist Musician”
On stage Saturday, Sheeran admitted he never wanted any of this. “I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician,” he said, “but I found myself in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet.”
He told the crowd he was “deeply worried” by the idea that venues — and, by extension, those who run them — can dictate what performers do on stage. “This happens in so many places that I perform around the world,” he said, “but it should never happen in the free world.”
Sheeran also addressed the Israel-Palestine conflict directly — something he said he’s spent his career trying not to do because he wants his music to be “about unity, not division” and “about humanity, not politics.” “But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore,” he said, calling the Oct. 7 attack on the Nova music festival in Israel “horrific,” compounding “centuries of Jewish pain,” while saying what is happening in Gaza is “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate” and that events in the West Bank “cannot be overlooked.” He said he is “listening and learning, because I do not know enough.”
A Show Without Openers — and a Delayed Start Time
Saturday’s show looked different from the start. With no openers left on the bill, the start time was pushed back from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Protesters gathered outside the venue, but inside, Lincoln Financial Field was packed with Sheeran fans.
Sheeran vowed his concerts would “still be a place where everyone is welcome and everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing views.” He closed his emotional speech with: “I honestly am so grateful that you’re here tonight with me… everyone here can stand by people they don’t agree with on everything — but they can all agree on singing these songs.”
What Happens Next on the Loop Tour
Sheeran hinted he intends to finish out the remaining North American dates, saying he is “continuing my current tour.” The BBC reported some ticket prices for the tour have dropped to as low as $32, and some fans say they’ve been able to get refunds — though neither Ticketmaster nor Messina Touring Group has confirmed a reimbursement policy.
Whatever happens next, Saturday night made one thing clear: Ed Sheeran knows this week changed how the world sees him, and he isn’t hiding from it. Whether fans accept his apology — and what comes next for the rest of the tour — is a story we’ll keep watching.
Sources: Page Six, BBC News (Sept. 19–20, 2026). Reporting on the controversy continues to develop.