British singer Ed Sheeran commented on the situation in Gaza during his concert at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, September 19, following the removal of his tour’s opening act and the subsequent withdrawal of all other supporting artists. Sheeran described the situation as “catastrophic,” “unjustifiable,” and “disproportionate” while addressing the audience at the resumption of his U.S. tour.
The statement followed a series of changes to Sheeran’s tour lineup. Rapper Macklemore, the original opening act, was removed from the tour after making pro-Palestinian remarks at a concert in New Jersey earlier in the month. In response to the removal, Sheeran previously stated that the decision was made by the tour promoter, not him.
Following Macklemore’s removal, all four of the tour’s supporting artists announced they were withdrawing. Among them was Finneas, a musician and collaborator with his sister, singer Billie Eilish. In a statement on Instagram last Tuesday, Finneas said, “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. I stand with Palestine and its people.”
On the evening of the Philadelphia concert, a group of approximately 50 demonstrators gathered outside the venue. According to Reuters, participants waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans, including “Free, free Palestine.”
The Associated Press spoke with Hillary Steinberg, a 34-year-old from Philadelphia who had planned to attend the concert but chose to join the demonstration instead. “I was, until this week, a big Ed Sheeran fan,” Steinberg said. “I think all art is political, and all music is political, and so this choice, even though he was saying that he wasn’t complicit, is a political choice.”
Other concertgoers interviewed by Reuters expressed a different view. Joy VanRuler, 55, from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, stated her support for both artists. “It doesn’t need to be political,” she said. “It’s about the music, and we support both of them and it’s all good.”
Media reports indicated the concert began approximately two and a half hours later than its scheduled start time, with Sheeran performing without an opening act.
