British singer Ed Sheeran has spoken publicly about the war in Gaza, saying he has been deeply affected by the scale of destruction and civilian loss of life. He made the comments during a concert in Philadelphia on Saturday, addressing weeks of criticism over his decision to remove rapper Macklemore from his ongoing US tour.
Speaking to the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field, Sheeran said he never wanted to be seen as a political or activist musician, but had found himself pulled into a debate about free speech and one of the world’s most sensitive conflicts. He described the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, as horrific, while calling Israel’s war in Gaza “catastrophic, unjustifiable and disproportionate.” He added that his heart had been broken by the level of destruction and the loss of civilian and children’s lives, and said the ongoing situation in the West Bank could not be overlooked either.
The singer also acknowledged making mistakes in handling the controversy and apologised to fans, saying his concerts have always been meant as a safe space for everyone.
Macklemore was pulled from the remaining US dates of Sheeran’s tour after making pro-Palestinian remarks during a show in New Jersey earlier this month. The rapper said pressure from stadium owners, including Gillette Stadium’s Robert Kraft, led to his removal. Protesters gathered outside the Philadelphia venue ahead of Saturday’s show, reflecting the divide the issue has caused among fans.
