Ed Sheeran Calls Gaza Catastrophic And Unjustifiable At Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field

Sheeran breaks silence

Ed Sheeran told a packed crowd at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field that what is happening in Gaza is “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate,” and he said his “heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilian lives, of children’s lives.” The BBC reported Sheeran opened his Saturday show alone onstage and apologized to fans for making “mistakes” after the controversy over American rapper Macklemore being dropped from his tour over pro-Palestinian remarks.

In the same Philadelphia appearance, Sheeran said he has tried in his career not to be a political commentator because he wants his music and shows to be about unity, but he added, “But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.” NBC News described the comments as coming during the opening of Sheeran’s concert, the first since Macklemore was controversially removed from Sheeran’s “Loop” tour, and it said the remarks followed protests outside the venue ahead of Saturday’s show.

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Macklemore, Kraft, and protests

The controversy that preceded Sheeran’s Gaza remarks centered on Macklemore, who had been scheduled to open the Philadelphia show but was removed after pro-Palestinian remarks during a “Loop” tour opening at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. NBC News said pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at Pattinson Avenue and Broad Street just outside the stadium and shouted “Free, free Palestine,” while Robert Boucher, 73, called the stadium owners’ actions “an unjustifiable attempt to squelch free speech.”

CBC News reported that Sheeran said the decision to drop Macklemore was made by his promoters, not him, and it quoted him saying he was “deeply worried about the idea that venues pre-approve content for performers.” CBC News also tied the dispute to Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft, saying Kraft confirmed he was donating $2 million US to “aid in the region” at the singer-songwriter’s request, while Sheeran’s backing band and remaining supporting acts quit the tour in solidarity earlier this week.

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Gaza toll and next steps

AFP reported that Ed Sheeran said the Gaza situation is “unjustifiable,” and it placed his remarks alongside a wider entertainment-industry backlash after he had failed to back his opening act who was booted from the tour after making pro-Palestinian comments.

NBC News said more than 73,000 people have been killed in Gaza during Israel’s military campaign, including at least 1,200 since a fragile ceasefire took effect in October, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

In the same NBC News account, Israel launched its offensive in the Gaza Strip after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and it said Sheeran expressed worry about the idea that venues could “preapprove content” for artists while saying he would continue to perform on his current tour dates.

AFP also reported that on Saturday Gaza authorities said the latest Israeli fire had killed at least four people, including a 10-year-old girl, as Sheeran told his audience that this week had been the “hardest of my life” and that he had been afraid people would “throw things” at him.

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