The Media Line: Ed Sheeran Calls Gaza War ‘Catastrophic and Unjustifiable’ Onstage After Macklemore Dispute  

Ed Sheeran Calls Gaza War ‘Catastrophic and Unjustifiable’ Onstage After Macklemore Dispute  

By The Media Line Staff  

Ed Sheeran opened his solo concert in Philadelphia on Saturday by condemning the civilian suffering in Gaza while also addressing the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, following controversy over the removal of Macklemore from his tour after the rapper’s pro-Palestinian activism.  

“This is a humanitarian issue and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore,” Sheeran told the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field. “What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7th was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is a catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.”  

He continued: “My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilian lives, of children’s lives. And the systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.”  

Sheeran’s comments came after Macklemore was dropped from the tour following appearances at Sheeran’s September 4–5 New Jersey concerts. Macklemore shouted “Free Palestine,” displayed images of destruction in Gaza and performed “Hind’s Hall,” while describing Israel’s actions as genocide.  

The performances divided fans and drew criticism, including from singer Pink, who said the imagery was offensive to Jewish audience members. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose group owns Gillette Stadium, where the tour was headed, also objected to Macklemore’s participation. The tour promoter removed Macklemore September 14 after venues threatened to cancel upcoming concerts.  

Sheeran said the decision was the promoter’s rather than his. Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Irish band Beoga subsequently withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.  

Macklemore later pledged his entire $1 million in net tour earnings to six Palestinian aid organizations and challenged Kraft to match the donation for Israeli causes. Kraft said Sheeran had already contacted him and pledged $2 million toward humanitarian aid in the region.  

Macklemore previously drew controversy in 2014 when he appeared onstage in Seattle wearing what many considered a broadly antisemitic, stereotypically Jewish costume.  

Sheeran spoke for nearly four minutes Saturday, acknowledging mistakes in his handling of the dispute and saying he wanted his concerts to remain a safe space.