Ed Sheeran says situation in Gaza is ‘catastrophic and unjustifiable’ as he opens concert

… data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA" href="https://apnews.com/article/ed-sheeran-responds-macklemore-tour-3fd73815563039bea9b88f5efe745d62">supporting acts withdrew in solidarity</a></span> with opener Macklemore, who was <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA" href="https://apnews.com/article/ed-sheeran-tour-macklemore-24cffd7998110b9170593c0c98795c9f">dropped</a></span> after making pro-Palestinian comments onstage.</p><p>Sheeran began the concert alone on stage with no opener, but was joined by other musicians later in the show.</p><p>Sheeran said he wants his music and shows to be about unity and humanity, not politics. But he said the attacks in Israel of Oct. 7, 2023, were horrific and what is happening in Gaza “catastrophic and unjustifiable.”</p><p>“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 during his performance at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.</p> …