Ed Sheeran Clarifies Gaza Stance, Again Blames Venues for Kicking Macklemore Off Tour

Ed Sheeran performing in 2025 (Getty Images)CommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyEd Sheeran ended the longest week of his career on Saturday by sharing his thoughts on Israel’s continued assault on Gaza and further addressing the severe backlash to Macklemore being removed from the singer’s ongoing tour over calls for a free Palestine.

Ahead of his headlining performance in Philadelphia, Sheeran explained to fans that he “never wanted to be an activist musician” but that the expulsion of Macklemore—along with the subsequent resignations of Sheeran’s additional support acts and entire backing band—had put him “in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet.”.

On September 14, Macklemore accused longtime friend Sheeran of crumbling under pressure from New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft for allegedly threatening Sheeran with cancelling the show if he did not drop Macklemore as an opener.

Sheeran later blamed the promoter, Messina Touring Group, for his tourmate’s removal. Kraft, a longtime supporter of Israel and its military, admitted to involvement in the decision to remove Macklemore but did not respond to the rapper’s claim that he had rallied owners of other tour venues to follow suit.

Macklemore’s shows—including the two he played with Sheeran—have long included footage of Israel’s bombing of Gaza and a performance of “Hind’s Hall,” the rapper’s song for Hind Rajab, a five-year-old killed by the Israeli military.

Sheeran also used his pre-show speech to further share his thoughts about October 7 along with the ongoing assault on Palestinians. “What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain,” he said.

And the systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.” You can read Sheeran’s full opening remarks below.

Later in the set, Sheeran brought out replacements for his first backing band, Beoga, who resigned in solidarity with Macklemore alongside Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe.

Before the finale, Sheeran further spoke about the pressures he faced of canceling the rest of the tour. “Tonight has been honestly the best show of my life,” he said.

I don’t want to disappoint fans and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet.

My concerts have always been a safe space for everyone and that matters hugely to me. Honoring my commitment to my fans is also completely essential to who I am, and that’s why I’m here tonight on my own and continuing my current tour.

But I am deeply worried about the idea that venues should pre-approve content of performers. This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.