Ed Sheeran opens Philadelphia show by addressing Macklemore's removal

Ed Sheeran opened his Philadelphia concert on Saturday, September 19, 2026, by addressing Macklemore's removal from his tour, venue restrictions on artists' speech, and his own views on Israel and Palestine. It was his first show since Macklemore was pulled from the bill.

Macklemore was removed as a support act after several stadium operators, led by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, objected to his previous remarks in support of Palestine. Sheeran's remaining openers FINNEAS, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe, along with his backing band Beoga, withdrew in solidarity.

Sheeran told the crowd he was "deeply worried about the idea that venues should pre-approve content for performance," and said, "What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic, unjustifiable, and disproportionate." He said he secured a $2 million commitment from Kraft for humanitarian aid, matching his own $2 million pledge.

Later he said security concerns led him to alter the stage setup. Nothing further is announced.