Ed Sheeran fans in Philadelphia showed unwavering support for the British pop star during his Saturday concert despite the recent controversy involving his former opening act Macklemore.
Macklemore was dropped from Sheeran's tour after chanting "Free Palestine" at a New Jersey concert earlier this month. The decision prompted other supporting acts to quit in solidarity. According to Macklemore the powerful stadium owners including New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft threatened to cancel Sheeran’s shows if the rapper remained on the bill. Macklemore stood by his statement, noting that losing the stage was worth it to keep the conversation focused on Palestine.
Addressing the Philadelphia crowd Musician Ed Sheeran broke his usual apolitical stance. He condemned the October 7 Hamas attack but strongly criticized the ongoing military response also calling the situation in Gaza "catastrophic, unjustifiable and disproportionate." Sheeran added that he is educating himself on the conflict and exploring ways to support the victims. He had previously clarified on social media that the tour's promoters not him and made the decision to remove Macklemore.
Outside the venue the fans largely focused on the music. Attendee Joy VanRuler stated she supports both artists and believes concerts do not need to be political. Another fan Javier Hernandez felt Macklemore should have avoided politics altogether to prevent unnecessary conflict.
Meanwhile the dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered near the stadium. Organizers used the high-profile event to raise public awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to highlight local advocacy groups.
