Chiara Nava Ed Sheeran broke his silence on the war in Gaza , performing from the stage at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, in his first concert since the storm that rocked his Loop Tour . “ What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and inexcusable ,” the British singer said, explaining that he can no longer hide his opinions on an issue he defines first and foremost as humanitarian.
The comments come after Macklemore was dropped from the tour for his speeches in support of Palestine and several artists who were supposed to accompany Sheeran on his US dates withdrew. The singer also admitted he had made mistakes and expressed regret for the situation, while reiterating his desire to keep his concerts open to all and free from political divisions.
The Macklemore case and the accusations on freedom of expression
The scandal erupted in early September when Macklemore , during a concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, uttered words in support of the Palestinians and the slogan “ Free Palestine ” from the stage. In the following days, the rapper was excluded from the remaining American dates of the Loop Tour.
According to the reconstruction by promoter Messina Touring Group and reported by Sheeran, several venues reportedly announced they would not host concerts with Macklemore. Sheeran had already clarified on social media that he was not the one who decided to remove the rapper. The singer said he spent days trying to mediate between the various parties and reach a compromise. However, the incident had further consequences: among the artists who left the tour were Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe, as well as the support band Beoga.
From the Philadelphia stage, Sheeran then addressed the issue of freedom of expression . " I'm deeply concerned about the idea that concert organizers have to pre-approve artists' content ," he explained, arguing that a similar situation shouldn't occur " in the free world ." He also reiterated that he never wanted to be an activist musician and that he has always tried to make his music a space dedicated to unity and humanity, rather than politics.
"I can no longer hide my feelings": words on Gaza
In the most significant passage of the speech, Sheeran then addressed the conflict . He recalled the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel and what happened at the Nova music festival, calling it " horrific " and linking it to the long history of suffering of the Jewish population. He then spoke about the situation in the Gaza Strip . " What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic, inexcusable, and disproportionate ," he stated. The singer said he was " heartbroken " by the destruction and loss of civilian lives and children. He also addressed the situation in the West Bank, arguing that the injustices occurring there cannot be ignored.
Sheeran explained that the humanitarian nature of the issue led him to overcome the choice, maintained throughout most of his career, to remain silent on politics. " This is a humanitarian issue, and I can no longer hide my feelings ," he told the audience. Meanwhile, a demonstration in support of Palestine took place outside the Philadelphia stadium. Inside, Sheeran continued the concert without the originally scheduled opening acts. He concluded his speech by reminding people that audiences can be made up of people with profoundly different opinions and that, despite divisions, music can still represent a shared space.