Ed Sheeran on Saturday addressed the controversy surrounding rapper Macklemore's removal from his US tour, saying he could no longer “hide” how he feels about the Israel-Palestine conflict.
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The controversy began after Macklemore made pro-Palestinian remarks during Sheeran’s September 4 and 5 shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, including saying “Free Palestine” and performing his protest song “Hind’s Hall”.
Speaking at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, Sheeran opened his solo concert by addressing the controversy and the wider debate over free speech that has engulfed his Loop Tour.
Sheeran said he wanted his music and concerts to focus on unity and humanity rather than politics. However, he said the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel were horrific, while describing the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable.”
“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,” Sheeran said.
He acknowledged that he had made “mistakes” while navigating the difficult decisions surrounding the controversy. “My concerts have always been a safe space for everyone,” he said, adding that he remained committed to his fans, according to BBC.
“Now, I want to address the question of where I stand in the situation in Israel and Palestine, and whether my doing this concert here tonight implies where I stand,” he said.
“I have tried in my career not to be a political commentator of any kind, because I want my music and shows to be about unity, not division; about humanity, not politics. But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore," he added.
