PHILADELPHIA — Ed Sheeran opened his solo concert in Philadelphia on September 19, 2026, with a public statement condemning the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The singer performed alone at Lincoln Financial Field after support act Macklemore was removed from the tour lineup earlier in the month. "The systemic injustice we’re seeing unfolding the West Bank cannot be overlooked," Ed Sheeran said.

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the concert at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday night. About 50 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at Broad and Pattison streets in South Philadelphia ahead of the concert. A separate small group of about 30 protesters assembled several blocks away from the stadium.

The demonstration was planned for 4:30 p.m. ahead of Ed Sheeran's 8 p.m. performance. Speakers from Writers Against the War on Gaza, the Boycott Cooknsolo Coalition, and Shut Down Day & Zimmermann were expected to participate in the protest activities.

Jodi Rhoden, an organizer at Writers Against the War in Gaza, addressed the gathering. It’s much bigger than Ed Sheeran. It’s a movement for Palestinian lives, and it’s not going to stop until Palestine is free, Rhoden said.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel stated that authorities would monitor the situation. "We'll give people the opportunity to express their First Amendment right as long as they don't engage in illegal and inappropriate behavior," Bethel said. He added that police had a layered approach with additional assets in the stadium area to address public safety needs.

Inside the venue, Sheeran addressed the audience regarding the controversy surrounding his tour. "What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate," he said. He expressed distress over the civilian casualties, stating, "My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians' lives, of children's lives."

Sheeran explained his historical reluctance to engage in political commentary during his performances. "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," he said. He characterized the current situation as an exception to his usual stance.

"But this is a humanitarian issue. I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore," he said.

The singer also acknowledged the events of October 7, 2023, in Israel. "What happened in Israel, and at the music festival on October 7th was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain," he said. He noted the complexity of the conflict, saying, "I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician, but this 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 criticized the requirement for venues to review performance content in advance. "I am deeply worried about the idea that venues should pre-approved content of performance," he said. He argued that such practices should not occur in democratic societies. "This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world," he said.

The Philadelphia show was pushed from its originally advertised 5:30 p.m. start to 8 p.m. with Sheeran listed as the only act on the bill. He stated that honoring his commitment to fans was central to his decision to perform despite the changes. "Honoring my commitment to my fans is also completely central to who I am. And that is why I’m here tonight, on my own," he said.

Tour promoter Messina Touring Group announced that Macklemore would no longer appear on the remaining dates of the Loop Tour. The promoter stated that several stadiums indicated they would not permit concerts to proceed with Macklemore on the lineup. He said the decision to drop Macklemore was made by the tour promoter and venues rather than by him.

Sheeran said he had spoken with venue owners, promoters, and activists in an effort to reach a resolution but was unable to do so. Following Macklemore’s removal, support acts Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and Beoga withdrew from the Loop Tour.

Macklemore alleged that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft played a central role in the decision to remove him from the tour. Kraft acknowledged that he opposed Macklemore performing at Gillette Stadium. Kraft stated in a statement that Macklemore's participation in the concerts at Gillette Stadium "would cross that line." Robert Kraft said: "This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. Their pain and loss are real." "But that advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas, a United States and globally … designated terrorist organization whose horrific actions have caused immeasurable suffering for Palestinians and Israelis alike," Kraft said.

Kraft argued that Macklemore’s presentation of the Israel-Hamas war ignored the actions of Hamas and contributed to divisiveness and hate. Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey stated that Ed Sheeran’s treatment of Macklemore 'doesn’t sit right' and criticized Sheeran for not standing with his tour partner. Former Sheeran support acts BIIRD and Myles Smith came out in support of Macklemore, with BIIRD stating they stand 'unequivocally behind every word' Macklemore said.

Macklemore stated he is donating $1 million to support Palestinian relief efforts. According to reports, Macklemore donated his entire $1 million earnings from the tour to Palestinians, and Robert Kraft matched the donation with $2 million to aid in the region. The Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations sent an open letter to the Philadelphia Eagles, the City of Philadelphia, and Lincoln Financial Group criticizing the move to exclude Macklemore.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations filed a public-records request seeking information about who told Messina Touring Group that Macklemore could no longer perform at the venue. Reports indicate that Ed Sheeran has lost over 200,000 Instagram followers since the controversy, while Macklemore has gained over 1.6 million.

Timeline

On September 4 and September 5, 2026, Macklemore performed his song "Hind’s Hall" and displayed footage from Gaza during concerts at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. During these concerts, Macklemore called for a "Free Palestine" from the stage. On September 19, 2026, Ed Sheeran opened his solo concert in Philadelphia with comments about Gaza, saying what is happening is "catastrophic and unjustifiable." Also on September 19, 2026, Ed Sheeran stated, "What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate."

That same day, Ed Sheeran stated, "What happened in Israel, and at the music festival on October 7th was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain." Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside Ed Sheeran's concert at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday night. Jodi Rhoden, an organizer at Writers Against the War in Gaza, stated, "It’s much bigger than Ed Sheeran. It’s much bigger than Macklemore. It’s a movement for Palestinian lives, and it’s not going to stop until Palestine is free."

What's New

He stated, "What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate."

He stated, "I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician, but this put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet." He stated, "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." He stated, "But this is a humanitarian issue. I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore." He stated, "My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians' lives, of children's lives."

Why It Matters

The removal of Macklemore from the Loop Tour and the subsequent withdrawal of four other support acts highlight tensions between artistic expression and venue regulations. The involvement of high-profile figures such as Robert Kraft and the financial responses, including donations to relief efforts, underscore the broader societal impact of the conflict on the entertainment industry.

The public records request filed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations seeks to clarify the decision-making process behind Macklemore's removal, pointing to ongoing questions about transparency in corporate and venue operations. The divergent social media trends, with Sheeran losing followers and Macklemore gaining them, reflect the polarized public reaction to the artists' respective positions.