Ed Sheeran weeps on stage, says Israel’s actions in Gaza…
Crooner Ed Sheeran called Israel’s actions in Gaza “unjustifiable” as he wept and broke his silence during his first live performance since booting rapper Macklemore from his tour for tirades against the Jewish state.
“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 told the Philly crowd of concertgoers Saturday night time.
During his speech, which got here at the start of the Saturday night time present at Lincoln Financial Field, he also talked about the Gaza War, criticizing Israel and Hamas.
“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,” Sheeran said, apparently studying from a teleprompter.
“But this is a humanitarian issue. I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore. What happened in Israel, and at the music festival on October 7th was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain,” he said as he broke down in tears.
“What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.”
“My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilian loss and loss of children’s lives. And the systemic injustice we’re seeing unfolding the West Bank cannot be overlooked,” the singer-songwriter said.
He later shared that his first live performance again “is not the usual ‘Loop’ show” as he was frightened of how the crowd would react after Macklemore’s departure.
Ed Sheeran returned to his tour during a cease at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Lone Pine press for NYPost
Sheeran gave a short intro before going into his common set on the “LOOP tour” Lone Pine Press for NY Post
“I usually go out to a B stage and I’m going to be totally honest with you, I didn’t know what this audience would be like tonight,” Sheeran said, including, “I didn’t know if I would have things thrown at me.”
Sheeran confirmed he shall be persevering with “The Loop” tour despite all of his opening acts — including his backing band — dropping out since Macklemore obtained the boot.
“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, receiving a roaring applause.
Sheeran’s troubles started last week when his assist act, Macklemore, went on a rant at Metlife Stadium. Lone Pine Press for NY Post
Sheeran performs at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. Lone Pine Press for NY Post
“I am deeply worried about the idea that venues should pre-approved content of performance,” the singer said, including “this happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.”
Sheeran said without live shows bringing people together, “the world is heading to a very, very, very dark place.”
“If we get too divided…we need to come back to humanity, realize that we are all the same, and we understand each other,” Sheeran said.
“I’ve had a week of learning,” he said smiling.
He obtained only applause from the crowd, which appeared to not fill the soccer stadium. He then broke into his track “Castle on the Hill.”
Sheeran’s opening acts and backing band give up after Macklemore was faraway from the tour. Lone Pine Press for NY Post
Sheeran introduced out a new group of musicians to fill in for his backing band, which give up over Macklemore, including violinist Alicia Enstrom who performed “Galway Girl” alongside the singer.
“When my friends dropped out of this show, I was thinking, ‘how am I going to keep the show the same? And how am I going to get musicians to stand on stage with me in a week where no one wants to stand on stage?’”
He said the musicians had three days to study the setlist and praised their bravery for standing alongside him during the barrage of hateful criticism he’s obtained just lately.
“And I just want to say, before they come on stage, they said yes to being on stage with the knowledge that the world thought I was a certain type of person,” Sheeran said.
Pro-Palestinian protesters collect on the nook of Broad Street and Pattinson Avenue to protest Ed Sheeran’s performance at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. Lone Pine press for NYPost
“They said yes with the knowledge that the world may hate them too for standing on stage with me.”
Some followers at the present praised the comments, which got here after every week of turmoil, which noticed all of Sheeran’s opening acts give up when he dropped Macklemore from the present after strain from venue operators who objected to him saying “Free Palestine” during earlier appearances in the tour.
“He was put in a tough spot. I am proud of him for finally speaking his mind. We are all human and I think it would have hurt more overall if he ignored all together,” attendee Bryan Prevette told The Post.
“He ripped the bandaid off,” Prevette, who lives in Maryland said of Sheeran’s assertion.
“Was there any other [way] to do it? He had to address the elephant in the room,” he said.
David, a concertgoer from Salt Lake City agreed and thought Sheeran “did great.”
The crowd during Sheeran’s present at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. Lone Pine Press for NY Post
“It’s [a] touchy subject. I thought what he said was unifying,” he told The Post.
Macklemore was let go from the tour after New England Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft barred the rapper from acting at Gillette Stadium over his comments. He was also barred from a collection of other stadiums round the nation.
Jewish singer Pink spoke out against the “Thrift Shop” rapper, and slammed him for a 2014 incident in which he performed a live performance dressed as an antisemitic caricature of a Jewish individual.
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