'What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable': Ed Sheeran addresses Macklemore row on stage

Ed Sheeran on Saturday addressed the controversy surrounding rapper Macklemore's removal from his US tour, saying he could no longer “hide” how he feels about the Israel-Palestine conflict.The controversy began after Macklemore made pro-Palestinian remarks during Sheeran’s September 4 and 5 shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, including saying “Free Palestine” and performing his protest song “Hind’s Hall”.Speaking at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, Sheeran opened his solo concert by addressing the controversy and the wider debate over free speech that has engulfed his Loop Tour.Sheeran said he wanted his music and concerts to focus on unity and humanity rather than politics. However, he said the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel were horrific, while describing the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable.”“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.He acknowledged that he had made “mistakes” while navigating the difficult decisions surrounding the controversy. “My concerts have always been a safe space for everyone,” he said, adding that he remained committed to his fans, according to BBC.“Now, I want to address the question of where I stand in the situation in Israel and Palestine, and whether my doing this concert here tonight implies where I stand,” he said.“I have tried in my career not to be a political commentator of any kind, because I want my music and shows to be about unity, not division; about humanity, not politics. But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore," he added.'What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic'Sheeran further described the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel as “horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain”.“What happened in Israel and at the Nome Museum Festival on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain,” Sheeran said.“What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate. My heart has been broken by the scale of of devastation and loss of civilian lives, of children's lives, and this systemic injustice we're seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked,” he added.Sheeran said he was trying “to work out how to make a contribution that helps victims of these terrible times and listening and learning, because I do not know enough”.He also said he was “deeply worried about the idea that venues pre-approve content for performance”. The singer ended his remarks by saying he wanted his concerts to remain spaces where people with opposing views could come together.“I am honestly so grateful that you're here tonight with me,” he told the audience. “This concert is still a place where everyone is welcome and everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing views,” he added.Macklemore was subsequently removed from the remaining US dates after venues objected to his participation, according to the tour promoter. Several supporting acts later withdrew from the tour in solidarity.Why was Macklemore removed?Macklemore’s remarks drew criticism from some Jewish and pro-Israel organisations, with the Israeli-American Council calling for him to be removed from the tour.Messina Touring Group, the promoter behind the US leg of Sheeran’s Loop Tour, later announced that Macklemore would no longer perform on the remaining dates.The promoter said venues had informed it that they would not allow concerts featuring the rapper to proceed, potentially leading to cancellations affecting hundreds of thousands of ticket holders.Sheeran has said the decision was made by the promoter and venues, not by him. He also expressed concern about venues deciding in advance what performers can say on stage.Macklemore has said the decision came after pressure from venue owners, including Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, where Sheeran was scheduled to perform.Kraft, who is Jewish, accused the rapper of hate speech and said he was “only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas”.The controversy intensified after several artists withdrew from Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, Danish band Lukas Graham and members of Sheeran’s touring band Beoga were among those who pulled out.Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother and musical collaborator, also withdrew from the South American leg of the tour. The artists cited concerns about freedom of speech and the decision to remove Macklemore.Macklemore later said he and Sheeran had held “difficult conversations” following the MetLife shows. He maintained his support for Palestinians and said he did not regret using the tour stage to speak about the conflict.Macklemore said Wednesday that he would donate $1 million to Palestinian relief efforts and called on Kraft to match the contribution.Despite the controversy, several fans attending Sheeran’s Philadelphia concert said they continued to support the singer. Some said they had hesitated about attending because of the dispute but ultimately chose to go ahead with the show.Others attended a protest outside the stadium instead, while some fans said they wanted to put the controversy aside and enjoy the music. Reuters reported that fans at the concert largely expressed support for Sheeran despite the backlash.Pro-Palestinian protesters also gathered outside Lincoln Financial Field ahead of the concert, criticising Macklemore’s removal from the tour. Sheeran’s Loop Tour is scheduled to continue with shows across North and South America.Gaza death tollIsraeli airstrikes killed at least three Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, according to health officials. One strike near the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza killed Basir Al-Bursh, the son of Munir Al-Bursh, director-general of Gaza’s health ministry, medics and family members said.Palestinian authorities say more than 73,000 people have been killed in Israel’s assault on Gaza, which began after Hamas-led fighters killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel in October 2023.A US-brokered ceasefire agreed last year calls for the eventual reconstruction of Gaza, but little progress has been made as negotiators remain divided over Hamas disarming and Israel withdrawing its troops.More than 1,300 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect, according to territory health officials. The Israeli military says four Israeli soldiers have been killed during the same period.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.