Recording artist Macklemore appears on ABC's "Good Morning America" Summer Concert Series in Central Park in New York on July 22, 2022, left, and Ed Sheeran appears at the premiere of the film "F1 The Movie" in London on June 23, 2025. AP Photo

Ed Sheeran opened his solo concert in Philadelphia on Saturday with comments about Gaza, saying what is happening there is "catastrophic and unjustifiable."

Sheeran said he wants his music and shows to be about unity and humanity, not politics. He then addressed the controversy that unfolded since his supporting acts withdrew in solidarity with opener Macklemore, who was dropped after making pro-Palestinian comments onstage.

"This is a humanitarian issue and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore," Sheeran told the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field. "What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7th was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is a catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate."

He added: "My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilian lives, of children's lives. And the systemic injustice we're seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked."

Sheeran has performed much of his Loop Tour concerts solo, but he had been joined for several songs at each stop by the Irish folk band Beoga. Macklemore, Sheeran's original U.S. opener, had been replaced by Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe before they backed out.

Finneas, Billie Eilish's brother and musical collaborator, was due to tour with Sheeran in South America later this year before he too dropped out earlier this week.

"I am already speaking to people across the spectrum to work out how to make a contribution that helps victims of these terrible times, and listening, and learning, because I do not know enough," Sheeran told the crowd Saturday.

The show comes after a tumultuous week that opened with Macklemore being dropped in response to exclaiming "Free Palestine" during a Sept. 5 show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Sheeran has said he was not responsible for the decision, which came at the urging of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. His company owns Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, where Sheeran's tour was scheduled to play on Friday.

Within hours of Sheeran's statement Tuesday, his supporting acts withdrew in support of the "Thrift Shop" artist.

Macklemore claimed he was removed from the tour after Kraft reached out to Sheeran. Kraft has said Macklemore's comments went too far and the rapper would not be welcome at Gillette Stadium.

"I am deeply worried about the idea that venues pre-approve content performance," Sheeran told Saturday's crowd.

Macklemore said Wednesday he is donating $1 million to support Palestinian relief efforts and called on Kraft to match the gift; a spokesperson for Kraft has said the billionaire and Sheeran have each agreed to donate $2 million but have not specified where the money will be directed. Sheeran's representatives have not responded to multiple requests for comment.

Sheeran's Loop Tour was the highest-grossing in the world, with an average box office gross of over $7 million per city, Pollstar said in May. Through the end of 2025, Sheeran was the No. 3 top-earning concert act since 2021.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations in Philadelphia sent an open letter to the Philadelphia Eagles, the stadium operator and the city asking who made the decision to remove Macklemore from the show at the Linc. The letter says the issue goes beyond one artist or one concert, raising questions about free speech and whether Macklemore's support for Palestinian rights played a role in his removal.

Police sources told CBS News Philadelphia that officers, including members of the Civil Affairs Division, would be deployed at the concert to monitor protests.

The Eagles have not returned a request for comment. The team manages Lincoln Financial Field.

Sheeran said in a post on Instagram that he tried to "build a bridge" between Macklemore and Kraft and the other venues. Sheeran said Messina Touring Group, the tour promoter, made the decision to remove Macklemore from the tour.

Kraft and Macklemore both said in recent days that they made donations to organizations that support Palestinian people.

Pro-Palestinian protesters rally outside concert
A small group of about 50 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at Broad and Pattison streets in South Philadelphia Saturday ahead of the Sheeran concert.

Protesters chanted and held flags and signs and spoke out against Sheeran.

"I think that Ed Sheeran could have made a statement by providing support to the Palestinian people," one protester said. "I think if he cancels the concert, he doesn't cancel the concert, I don't care … The fact of the matter is, if he wants to actually send a message, he should help people because people need help, and he has the ability to do that."

Some fans adjusted plans because of protest
Some fans headed to the show said they arrived early or opted to take public transportation to the show because of the expected protests.

"The fans always suffer is what ends up happening," Leigh Berton, of Chalfont, said. "You spent the money to see opening acts and now you don't have them ... And he gets the brunt of being the bad guy, so I don't think there was any winning situation."

"I think it's a little unfair for [Ed Sheeran], I think he's getting a lot of the blame. I don't know how much power he has to stop things, but in the end, I think it's just a community of people want to be out, have a good time," said fan Brad Antalosky of Boyertown.

Some fans said they were disappointed they won't get to see any opening acts, including Macklemore.

"We'll give people the opportunity to express their First Amendment right as long as they don't engage in illegal and inappropriate behavior, but we have a layered approach, so we'll have additional assets in the stadium area to address that," Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said. "But I'm confident we'll be able to address that, and our protesters will be able to voice their opinions and concert-goers will be able to go and enjoy the concert, and we'll work very hard to make sure that happens."

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