Ed Sheeran still took the stage at Lincoln Financial Field on September 19, despite growing attention surrounding Macklemore’s exit. The Ed Sheeran Admits ‘I Was Afraid’ Amid Tour Chaos first appeared on The Blast

Ed Sheeran‘s tour, long shrouded in political controversy, has now escalated into fear.

The “Shape of You” hitmaker’s Philadelphia concert took an unexpected turn when he admitted he was afraid to get too close to the crowd. The concert also marked Sheeran’s first major response to the unending Macklemore drama.

Ed Sheeran still took the stage at Lincoln Financial Field on September 19, despite growing attention surrounding Macklemore’s removal from the tour. He also addressed the controversy directly, apologizing to fans and acknowledging his mistakes.

Ed Sheeran Addresses The Changes To His Tour Stage

Sheeran told the Philadelphia audience that his usual stage setup had changed for the concert. He explained that he had originally planned to perform on a B Stage during the show. That setup would have placed him directly in the middle of the audience. 

The singer ultimately decided against it because he was unsure how the crowd would react. “I didn’t know what this audience would be like,” he told the crowd.

Sheeran added that he didn’t know whether fans might throw things at him if he stood among them. The “Thinking Out Loud” singer openly admitted:

“I was afraid of what might happen if I stood in the middle. And I will admit that.”

The decision reflected the heightened security concerns surrounding his first Philadelphia performance since the Macklemore controversy erupted. Philadelphia police had previously told TMZ they would take appropriate safety measures. 

The Singer Apologized For ‘Making Mistakes’ 

Sheeran’s Philadelphia appearance came after an unusually difficult week for his Loop Tour. Every opening act had reportedly stepped away from the remaining dates after Macklemore was removed from the lineup.

The controversy followed Macklemore’s pro-Palestine comments during performances at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on September 4 and 5. The Grammy singer’s tour promoter said venues had threatened to pull out if Macklemore continued performing.

Sheeran therefore appeared in Philadelphia without an opening act. Other supporting acts, Aaron Rowe, Finneas, and Luke Graham, also announced that they were dropping out of the tour in solidarity. Beoga, the singer’s backing band, also bowed out.

The concert start time was reportedly moved from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The protests outside the venue began around 4:30 p.m. The singer apologized to the audience before continuing with his performance. The Blast revealed that Sheeran told fans he was “making mistakes” and was “so, so sorry” while addressing the backlash directly from the stage. 

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Why Ed Sheeran Continued With The Tour

The “Perfect” singer told the crowd that his concerts have always been intended to provide a safe environment for everyone. He said honoring his commitment to his fans remained essential to who he was. “I don’t want to disappoint fans,” Sheeran said. He also explained that he had never wanted to become an activist musician. 

Sheeran also called the Israel-Palestine conflict the most complex political issue on the planet. The singer said he was concerned about venues pre-approving content before performances. He argued that although such practices happen in places where he performs worldwide, they should not happen in what he called “the free world.”

Sheeran also directly addressed questions about where he stood regarding Israel and Palestine. He nevertheless said he could no longer hide how he felt about the humanitarian situation. Sheeran described what happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on October 7 as horrific.

He then described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable, and disproportionate.” He also said the loss of civilian and children’s lives was devastating. The singer said the injustice in the West Bank could not be overlooked.

Macklemore Was Honored With A Gaza Mural

Macklemore’s removal did not end the attention his comments drew. The rapper subsequently pledged $1 million from his tour net earnings to humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza. He also continued speaking publicly about the conflict after leaving Sheeran’s tour.

His actions attracted support from people who viewed his public statements as an important use of his platform. The Blast reported that a mural honoring Macklemore appeared in Gaza City after he was removed from the tour.

Local artists Anne Redwan and Qusai al-Helo created the artwork. The artwork showed the rapper draped in a Palestinian flag with a message thanking him for using his voice. Ms. Rachel reportedly matched Macklemore’s commitment.

Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft also said Sheeran had pledged $2 million toward humanitarian relief and asked him to match that amount. Macklemore had previously accused Kraft of being involved in efforts by venue owners to oppose his continued participation on the tour.

He reportedly used Instagram to redirect attention toward the humanitarian situation in Palestine. TicketData founder Keith Pagello reported a rise in the rapper’s Red Rocks prices. He said the get-in price climbed 45% in three days.

Ed Sheeran’s Philadelphia Stop Faced Uncertainty

Before Sheeran’s Philadelphia performance, questions had already emerged about the concert’s ticket sales. Hundreds of tickets were reportedly still available through StubHub hours before the show. The available tickets were listed between $56 and $251. 

The singer also faced planned demonstrations outside Lincoln Financial Field. The Philly Palestine Coalition and Shut Down D&Z had called on supporters to gather outside the venue. He had set the venue’s all-time concert attendance record in June 2023 with 77,900 fans during his Mathematics tour.

The changes to the Loop Tour have extended beyond one Philadelphia performance. Sheeran was left to continue the remaining dates as the solo act after several performers and his backing band departed.

The Blast had previously reported that the tour had around 17 dates remaining. The singer’s team remained confident in his ability to perform major arena shows without his usual supporting lineup.

The Ed Sheeran Admits ‘I Was Afraid’ Amid Tour Chaos first appeared on The Blast