ICE shooting in Austin U.S., Iran threats Patrick Clancy on '60 Minutes' El Niño is being 'supersized' Meta's AI agent, Muse Tropical Storm Odalys Inside the media ban Trump and the Kennedy Center Trump on 'AI Force,' AI czar Breast cancer treatment Ed Sheeran took the stage solo Saturday night at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field, breaking his silence to a nearly full stadium of about 50,000 fans about the fallout from Macklemore's removal from his tour. In a tearful two-minute address before playing his first song, the British singer called the situation in Gaza "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate," acknowledged the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack as "horrific," admitted to "making mistakes" and said he was "deeply worried about the idea that venues could pre-approve content and performance." "I've had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I am so, so sorry," Sheeran told the crowd, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer . "I don't want to disappoint fans, and I've never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has 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 said his "heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians' lives, of children's lives," and that "the systemic injustice we're seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked." He also acknowledged the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, calling them "horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain." Sheeran also delivered a pointed criticism of the pressure that led to Macklemore's removal. "I am deeply worried about the idea that venues could pre-approve content and performance," he said. "This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world." Outside the stadium, dozens of pro-Palestinian activists gathered near SEPTA's NRG station in the hours before the concert. About 50 protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted "Free Palestine," according to CNN and Philadelphia Inquirer reporting. Ticket resale prices had fallen to as low as $32.25 by Saturday afternoon, according to Ticketmaster listings tracked by The Inquirer. Later in the show, in an off-the-cuff address before his final songs, Sheeran told the crowd he had questioned whether he wanted to continue performing at all. "I really didn't know whether this tour would carry on, I really didn't know whether I'd get on stage again, whether I even wanted to be an artist at all," he said, according to Billboard's recap of the show. He later called it "the best show of my life." Remaining dates of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour Sept. 19: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Sept. 19: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Sept. 25-26: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass. Sept. 25-26: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass. Oct. 3: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Oct. 3: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Oct. 10: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Oct. 10: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Oct. 17: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. Oct. 17: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. Oct. 24: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas Oct. 24: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas Oct 29-30: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Fla. Oct 29-30: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Fla. Nov 7: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Nov 7: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Nov. 21-22: Estadio Bicentenario De La Florida, Santiago, Chile Nov. 21-22: Estadio Bicentenario De La Florida, Santiago, Chile Nov. 26: Nueva Olla Stadium, Asunción, Paraguay Nov. 26: Nueva Olla Stadium, Asunción, Paraguay Nov. 29: Tomás Adolfo Ducó Stadium (Huracán Stadium), Buenos Aires, Argentina Nov. 29: Tomás Adolfo Ducó Stadium (Huracán Stadium), Buenos Aires, Argentina Dec. 5-6: Nubank Parque, Sao Paulo

Dec. 5-6: Nubank Parque, Sao Paulo Dec. 11: Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, Mexico City Dec. 11: Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, Mexico City It's unclear whether ticket holders can exchange their tickets or get a refund following the lineup changes. According to Ticketmaster , event organizers determine refund policies, and they are "only allowed in limited circumstances." Ticketmaster's standard purchase policy states : "Opening Acts are subject to change or cancellation at any time without notice. No refund will be given due to a change in or cancellation of a Participant or Opening Act." And according to Sheeran's website , all sales are final: "If you change your mind about your ticket purchase, you are not entitled to a refund or exchange on your ticket purchase." The Philadelphia news site Billy Penn reported that some ticket holders said Lincoln Financial Field has begun issuing refunds due to the lineup change. How we got here Macklemore performs in Dublin in 2025. Earlier this month, Macklemore performed as Sheeran's opening act at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he made pro-Palestinian comments and performed his protest song "Hind's Hall." The song was written after protests in support of Palestine occurred on college campuses across the U.S. in 2024, and is named after Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed by Israeli troops in Gaza. Last month, Israel's military acknowledged that its troops had opened fire on the car carrying Hind and her family and said it had opened a criminal investigation into the killing. "A big part of the ​reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could ​stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: 'Free ‌Palestine,'" ⁠Macklemore said onstage at MetLife Stadium. "To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, it in no way is criticism of you," the rapper added. His comments drew criticism from pop singer Pink and pro-Israel groups, including the Israeli-American Council, which started a petition to have the Grammy-winning artist dropped from the tour. Robert Kraft speaks to the media at Tom Brady's induction into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in Foxborough, Mass., in 2024. Robert Kraft, owner of the NFL's New England Patriots, said in a statement on Monday that Macklemore wouldn't be welcome at Gillette Stadium for the tour's scheduled performances at the end of September. The Wall Street Journal reported that Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons owners also decided not to host the tour if Macklemore remained on the bill, and that Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie was reaching the same conclusion before the rapper was dropped. According to Macklemore , Kraft — who in 2024 withdrew funding for Columbia University over its handling of protests against Israel's war in Gaza — had "rallied some of the other stadium owners" to give Sheeran "an ultimatum: If Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play." In his statement , Sheeran said that he had spoken with Kraft and the other venues "to try and build a bridge," but that their "decision was final." "After Macklemore's performances at my New Jersey shows, venues on my upcoming tour dates communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting," he said on Instagram Tuesday. "Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine." Hours after Sheeran's Instagram post, the rest of his supporting acts — Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Danish pop band Lukas Graham and songwriter Finneas — as well as Sheeran's house band, Beoga, announced that they were pulling out in protest. "Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed," Finneas, the brother of Billie Eilish, wrote in a note posted to Instagram. "I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people." The Irish artists cited their country's history of oppression in their decisions to drop out. "I don't take the decision lightly. Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this," Rowe wrote in his own Instagram post. "But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation. I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children." "We are Irish people who understand colonialism," Beoga said in a statement on Instagram. "As founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement, we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be." Finneas was scheduled to be the supporting act for stops in Chile, Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. Rowe and Lukas Graham had been due to open for Sheeran on his remaining 11 North American tour dates. The promoter, Messina Touring Group, said in a statement to Rolling Stone that it had been notified by venues on Sheeran's upcoming U.S. tour that they would "not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans." The company said that "after discussions with stakeholders," it decided to remove Macklemore. Representatives for the Messina Touring Group did not immediately return a request for comment. In his Instagram post, Sheeran also insisted that "I do not use my professional platform for politics." "My audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds," he said. "Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum." But several commenters were quick to point out that Sheeran has, in fact, used his professional platform to support political causes , including a video he posted ahead of his performance at a 2022 benefit concert for Ukraine. "I just wanted to say to all Ukrainians, I love you, I stand with you, and I'm so proud to be playing this fundraising event," he said. On Wednesday, Macklemore pledged to donate $1 million from the net earnings he received from Sheeran's tour to organizations that support Palestinians. The rapper then called on Kraft to match his donation. Within hours, Kraft issued his own statement , saying, "I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting. Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis." Kraft added: "I'd like the people who are speaking in support of the Palestinian people to know that for decades, I have supported efforts that create opportunity for Palestinians and have brought young Palestinians and Israelis together to build businesses, create jobs, and forge relationships." Kraft's $2 million and Sheeran's matching contribution will go to the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund, Heal Palestine, the Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, the U.N. Relief and Works Agency and Anera, according to the Associated Press.