Ed Sheeran Apologizes for 'Mistakes' at Philadelphia Show — SkimNews
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- Ed Sheeran apologized for "mistakes" at his Philadelphia concert opener, his first show since Macklemore was dropped for making pro-Palestinian remarks on stage in early September.
- Sheeran called the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks "horrific" and the situation in Gaza "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate," saying he could no longer stay silent on a "humanitarian issue."
- All of Sheeran's support acts quit the tour in solidarity with Macklemore, including Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham and his band Beoga, citing a "chilling effect on free speech."
- Robert Kraft confirmed he personally banned Macklemore from performing at Gillette Stadium, accusing the rapper of "hate speech" and ignoring Hamas's actions.
- Messina Touring Group dropped Macklemore because venues including Gillette would refuse to host the concerts; Sheeran said the decision was made by promoters, not him.
- Ticket prices for the remaining US Loop Tour dates dropped sharply, with some falling to $32 (£24), and some fans reported obtaining refunds from Ticketmaster.
Why it matters: The controversy has cost Sheeran his entire roster of support acts and depressed ticket revenue, while exposing a new power dynamic where venue owners like Kraft can effectively veto tour lineups — a "pre-approval" trend Sheeran himself flagged as worrying from the stage.
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