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Ed Sheeran calls Gaza 'catastrophic and unjustifiable' at Philadelphia concert

musicSep 19, 202656252

Ed Sheeran opened a solo concert at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday and told the crowd that what is happening in Gaza is "catastrophic and unjustifiable." He said the Oct. 7 attack on Israel was horrific and "compounded centuries of Jewish pain," and added that the scale of devastation and civilian, including children's, deaths in Gaza and systemic injustice in the West Bank "cannot be overlooked." Sheeran addressed the weeklong controversy around his U.S. tour, saying he was not responsible for dropping opener Macklemore after the rapper shouted "Free Palestine" at a Sept. 5 show and that the decision came at the urging of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium. Sheeran noted several supporting acts withdrew in solidarity after Macklemore's removal, including the Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe, and that Finneas had earlier dropped out of planned South America dates. Sheeran said he wants his music and shows to be about unity and humanity, that he is "listening and learning," and that he is speaking to people across the spectrum to work out how to contribute to help victims. A Kraft spokesperson has said Kraft and Sheeran have each agreed to donate $2 million though donors have not specified where the money will be directed, and Macklemore said he is donating $1 million to Palestinian relief efforts. The Council on American-Islamic Relations in Philadelphia sent an open letter to the stadium operator and city asking who made the decision to remove Macklemore from the show.

Yashar Ali 🐘
@yasharali.bsky.social

2. He acknowledges the October 7 attack on Israel and then goes on to say, “What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.” He adds, “The systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.”

1212h ago
Raider
@iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social

Ed Sheeran addressed Macklemore and the Israel-Palestine controversy before his Philly concert, saying that he believes that performers should have freedom of speech and said that what is happening in Gaza is "catastrophic, unjustifiable and disproportionate."

422h ago
mariannep23.bsky.social5

I love Ed Sheeran, he should have canceled the tour. He made the wrong choice and we will remember his lack of real action.

neveratrueword.bsky.social4

Good speech. I think he just about summed up what most reasonable people feel about the issue. Kudos to Ed Sheeran.

Another GAY Steven4

It takes an liberty man to admit his faults and educate himself to be a better human being.

Brainiac Kim 🇨🇦2

It's disturbing that rich people can censor free speech & require pre-approval. It's a fascist country now. The UN declared Netanyahu a war criminal& what Israel is doing to women, kids, disabled, elderly citizens as a genocide. Acknowledging the pain Jews experienced on Oct. 7 was good.

John2

Whats happening in Gaza or whats happening to your dwindling fanbase?

Something In The Night1

Then cancel your Gillette shows!

Philadelphia Inquirer
@inquirer.com

Ed Sheeran told the crowd in Philadelphia that what's happening in Gaza is “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate," in his first show since the controversial removal of Macklemore from the tour.

212h ago
SJ_Destroyer243

Too fucking late douche bag. You silent till it hit your wallet

Bespoke Federal Reserve Exception3

"That's why I fired someone for saying that.'

Don't Negotiate With Insurrectionists 2

Still the biggest loser and coward

Quoting this
Alys Rujasu8

“This concert is still a place where everyone is welcome and [...] can stand by people that they don’t agree with on everything,” he said, “but they can all agree on singing these songs.” Ed Sheeran wants all of us to come together and focus on what's *really* important here - Ed Sheeran's career.

Kara McNair4

a fun thing about having studied linguistics is knowing how to spell ‘twat’ in the way the brits pronounce it: ‘twæt’

Dan (Chariot Greeter)2

Guy’s trying to have it more ways than your mom

Simon Rosenberg
@simonrosenberg.bsky.social

Sheeran joins a long line of mealy-mouthed cowards using the passive tense to describe the #GazaGenocide. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/s...

91h ago
Democratic Activists
@democratswin.bsky.social

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." Archbishop Desmond Tutu. consequence.net/2026/09/ed-s...

101h ago
Chris⚖️Justice
@chrisjustice01.bsky.social

“What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate” I wish all leaders would say that.

72h ago
June Osborne
@unhingedoffred.bsky.social

Hey Ed - murdering 20,000 children isn’t political. Ed Sheeran says situation in Gaza is 'catastrophic and unjustifiable' as he opens solo concert apnews.com/article/ed-s...

32h ago
Middle East Eye (Unofficial)
@middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social

Ed Sheeran says what is happening in Gaza is 'catastrophic, unjustifiable' - https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/ed-sheeran-says-what-happening-gaza-catastrophic-unjustifiable

42h ago
Quoting this
STEAMLORD14

AHAHAHAH AHAHAHA AHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAH It's too late now Ed

Grumpelstiltskin
@maxwellshabbsby.bsky.social

Now that Ed Sheeran has said where he stands on Gaza, unfortunately Ed Sheeran has been dropped from the Ed Sheeran tour

62h ago
Randy Fair
@southerngayteacher.bsky.social

Sincere or self-serving? “I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes and I’m so, so sorry for them. “What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate,” www.theguardian.com/music/2026/s...

32h ago
thegladerunner.bsky.social1

Well, we know now he follows the cash. 🤷🏻‍♂️

KB DogsRule1

Self serving. Too little, too late.

Meidas Clementine 21

Watch it or Robert Kraft and his cronies will kick you off your own tour

FaeAlicia System
@faealicia.bsky.social

lol. The guy literally fired people in defense of the "catastrophic and unjustifiable" situation and said he prefers not to use his platform to push this sort of stuff. But sure, as of his SOLO CONCERT because of the above shit, he's always been against the bad stuff.

32h ago
Crust News
@crustnews.com

Ed Sheeran opened his Philadelphia concert saying what is happening in Gaza is "catastrophic and unjustifiable", despite kicking Macklemore off his tour for sharing the same sentiment. He did not apologise for his attempt to blame "both sides" on a genocide recognised by the UN.

42h ago
Spooky Boo
@spookyboo.bsky.social

Imagine saying you are still “listening and learning” about Gaza in September 2026. Where have you been, Ed Sheeran?

42h ago
In Spite of Trump
@inspiteoftrump.com

Maybe someone told Ed Sheeran that he should talk about Gaza on stage at remaining shows to redeem himself. I don't come away from this thinking that Sheeran is some inherently bad person. I think he has remained willfully and blissfully ignorant. It was good for his mental health until now.

11h ago
Brendan Burkart
@brendanburkart.bsky.social

I didn't read it all #edSheeran #Macklemore #Gaza #israel What did stood out was Ed saying he wanted his concerts to be a place for unity and not division You don't hold a concert for kkk nazis and anyone else You own your choice between clearly different ideologies www.bbc.com/news/article...

12h ago
3 sources
cbsnews.comEd Sheeran says situation in Gaza is "catastrophic and unjustifiable" at first concert since Macklemore was dropped from tourapnews.comEd Sheeran says situation in Gaza is 'catastrophic and unjustifiable' as he opens solo concerttheage.com.au‘I’m so, so sorry’: Ed Sheeran labels war in Gaza ‘catastrophic and unjustifiable’

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