Ed Sheeran Addresses the War in Gaza as Tour Resumes

… </div></section></div><section name="articleBody" class="meteredContent css-6wov7h" data-paywall-inert=""><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-0"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-12m5bll evys1bk0">Ed Sheeran took the stage at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field to resume his tour, which earlier this week <a class="css-povzk" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/arts/music/ed-sheeran-tour-macklemore-palestine-gaza-finneas.html" title="">became embroiled in a clash</a> over free speech and support for the Palestinian cause. Taking a darkened stage, he said he had made “mistakes” during the week and apologized for disappointing fans.</p><p class="css-12m5bll evys1bk0">“I’ve tried in my career to not be a political commentator of any kind because I want my music and shows to be about unity, not division, about humanity, not politics,” he said. “But this is a humanitarian issue and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.”</p><p class="css-12m5bll evys1bk0">He called the Oct. 7 Hamas attack “horrific.” “What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate. My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians’ lives, children’s lives. And the systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank, it cannot be overlooked.”</p><p class="css-12m5bll evys1bk0">Sheeran&#x27;s emotions welled as 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, and everyone here can stand beside people that they don’t agree with on everything, but they can all agree on singing these songs.”</p></div><aside class="css-ew4tgv" aria-label="companion column"></aside></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-1"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-1"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-12m5bll evys1bk0">Sheeran performed without an opening act, and the show’s start time was pushed back two hours.</p><p class="css-12m5bll evys1bk0">The statement came days after Macklemore, who had been an opening act, <a class="css-povzk" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/14/arts/music/macklemore-ed-sheeran-tour-palestine-gaza.html" title="">was dropped from the tour</a> after saying “Free Palestine” onstage before performing a protest song at two concerts this month. The tour’s promoter, Messina Touring Group, dropped Macklemore after several venues said they would not allow him to perform.</p><p class="css-12m5bll evys1bk0">Robert Kraft, whose company owns the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium outside Boston, acknowledged in a statement on Monday that he would not “provide a platform for hate speech,” pointing to what he called a “broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery” by Macklemore “that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.”</p><p class="css-12m5bll evys1bk0">Four supporting acts, including Finneas and Beoga, Sheeran’s backing band, withdrew from the tour on Tuesday in solidarity with Macklemore. “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” <a class="css-povzk" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DdUdYF1zZ4d/?hl=en" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">wrote Finneas</a>, the brother and collaborator of Billie Eilish. He added, “I stand with Palestine and its people.”</p><p class="css-12m5bll evys1bk0">On Saturday, Sheeran expressed concern about venues requiring performers to get their content approved in advance. “This happens in so many places that I perform around the world,” he said, “but it should never happen in the free world.”</p></div><aside class="css-ew4tgv" aria-label="companion column"></aside></div></section><div data-paywall-inert="" style="display:contents"><div class="bottom-of-article"><div class="css-1i6tsou"><div class="css-hsn83p eqi4ubu0"><div><p>Elena Bergeron is an editor and writer in the Culture section of The Times.</p></div></div></div><div role="toolbar" data-testid="share-tools" aria-label="Social Media Share buttons, Save button, and Comments Panel with current comment count" class="css-10p500e"><div></div><div class="css-10i3hc"></div><div data-testid="share-tools-menu" class="css-jf7ug7"><ul data-testid="share-tools-list" class="css-16g9egj"><li class="css-1obgmli"><div class="css-vxcmzt"><div class="css-79elbk"><button type="button" aria-label="" aria-expanded="false" class="css-1eeh360 actionbar-button" data-testid="gift-article-button"><span class="css-10d8k1f"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="19" height="19" viewBox="0 0 19 19"><path d="M18.04 5.293h-2.725c.286-.34.493-.74.606-1.17a2.875 2.875 0 0 0-.333-2.322A2.906 2.906 0 0 0 13.64.48a3.31 3.31 0 0 0-2.372.464 3.775 3.775 0 0 0-1.534 2.483l-.141.797-.142-.847A3.745 3.745 0 0 0 7.927.923 3.31 3.31 0 0 0 5.555.459 2.907 2.907 0 0 0 3.607 1.78a2.877 2.877 0 0 0-.333 2.321c.117.429.324.828.606 1.171H1.155a.767.767 0 0 0-.757.757v3.674a.767.767 0 0 0 .757.757h.424v7.53A1.01 1.01 0 0 0 2.588 19h14.13a1.01 1.01 0 0 0 1.01-.959v-7.56h.424a.758.758 0 0 0 .757-.757V6.05a.759.759 0 0 0-.868-.757Zm-7.196-1.625a2.665 2.665 0 0 1 1.01-1.736 2.24 2.24 0 0 1 1.574-.313 1.817 1.817 0 0 1 1.211.818 1.857 1.857 0 0 1 .202 1.453 2.2 2.2 0 0 1-.838 1.191h-3.431l.272-1.413ZM4.576 2.386a1.837 1.837 0 0 1 1.221-.817 2.23 2.23 0 0 1 1.565.313 2.624 2.624 0 0 1 1.01 1.736l.242 1.453H5.182a2.2 2.2 0 0 1-.838-1.19 1.857 1.857 0 0 1 .202-1.495h.03ZM1.548 6.424h7.54V9.39h-7.58l.04-2.967Zm1.181 4.128h6.359v7.287H2.729v-7.287Zm13.777 7.287h-6.348v-7.307h6.348v7.307Zm1.181-8.468h-7.53V6.404h7.53V9.37Z" fill="#121212" fill-rule="nonzero"></path></svg>Share full article</span></button></div></div></li><li class="css-19yhb3c"><div class="css-vxcmzt"><div class="css-79elbk"><button type="button" aria-label="More sharing options ..." aria-expanded="false" class="css-1nurhyi actionbar-button"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="23" height="18" viewBox="0 0 23 18" class="css-1gj6bx9"><path d="M1.357 17.192a.663.663 0 0 1-.642-.81c1.82-7.955 6.197-12.068 12.331-11.68V1.127a.779.779 0 0 1 .42-.653.726.726 0 0 1 .78.106l8.195 6.986a.81.81 0 0 1 .253.557.82.82 0 0 1-.263.547l-8.196 6.955a.83.83 0 0 1-.779.105.747.747 0 0 1-.42-.663V11.29c-8.418-.905-10.974 5.177-11.08 5.45a.662.662 0 0 1-.6.453Zm10.048-7.26a16.37 16.37 0 0 1 2.314.158.81.81 0 0 1 .642.726v3.02l6.702-5.682-6.702-5.692v2.883a.767.767 0 0 1-.242.536.747.747 0 0 1-.547.18c-4.808-.537-8.364 1.85-10.448 6.922a11.679 11.679 0 0 1 8.28-3.093v.042Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="nonzero"></path></svg></button></div></div></li><li class="css-19yhb3c save-button"><button type="button" role="switch" class="css-w9tuw0 actionbar-button" data-testid="save-article-button" aria-label="Save article for reading later..." aria-checked="false" disabled="" aria-busy="false" aria-live="polite"><svg width="12" height="18" viewBox="0 0 12 18" class="css-111qyxx"><g fill-rule="nonzero"><path class="saved-fill" d="M1.157 1.268v14.288l4.96-3.813 4.753 3.843V1.268z"></path><path class="saved-stroke" d="m12 18-5.9-4.756L0 17.98V1.014C0 .745.095.487.265.297.435.107.664 0 .904 0h10.192c.24 0 .47.107.64.297.169.19.264.448.264.717V18ZM1.157 1.268v14.288l4.96-3.813 4.753 3.843V1.268H1.158Z"></path></g></svg></button></li></ul></div></div></div><div data-testid="lazy-loader"></div><div id="bottom-sheet-sensor"><section aria-labelledby="recirculation-title-placeholder" data-testid="recirculation-placeholder" class="css-2ypnkk"><h2 id="recirculation-title-placeholder" class="css-1dv1kvn">Related Content</h2><div class="css-16p55jy"><section data-testid="recirc-firstPackage-placeholder"><div class="css-1kr4l3o"><div class="css-8halcn"><div class="css-i1aftu"></div></div></div><ul class="css-1qjyq8t" role="list"><li class="css-1vxwltr"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li><li class="css-1vxwltr"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li><li class="css-1vxwltr"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li><li class="css-1vxwltr"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li><li class="css-1vxwltr"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li><li class="css-1vxwltr"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li></ul></section><section data-testid="recirc-defaultPackage-placeholder"><div class="css-1kr4l3o"><div class="css-8halcn"><div class="css-i1aftu"></div></div></div><ul class="css-1qjyq8t" role="list"><li class="css-1k72yq2"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li><li class="css-1k72yq2"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li><li class="css-1k72yq2"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li></ul></section></div><div class="css-tlvuht"><section data-testid="recirc-rightRail-placeholder"><div class="css-1kr4l3o"><div class="css-8halcn"><div class="css-i1aftu"></div></div></div><ul class="css-1qjyq8t" role="list"><li class="css-1uru37z"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li><li class="css-1uru37z"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li><li class="css-1uru37z"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li><li class="css-1uru37z"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li><li class="css-1uru37z"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li><li class="css-1uru37z"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li><li class="css-1uru37z"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li><li class="css-1uru37z"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li><li class="css-1uru37z"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li><li class="css-1uru37z"><div class="css-1b90zgj" data-testid="recirc-item-placeholder"><div class="css-1jj8cbd"><div class="css-9t8fgp"><div class="css-1temmo1"></div></div></div><div class="css-wfzhmp"><figure><div class="css-18wkd9d"></div></figure></div></div></li></ul></section></div></section></div><div><div id="bottom-wrapper" class="css-11x0v6s"><div id="bottom-slug" class="css-47ks0y"><p>Advertisement</p></div><a href="#after-bottom" class="css-777zgl">SKIP ADVERTISEMENT</a><div class="ad bottom-wrapper css-rfqw0c" id="bottom" style="min-height:90px"></div><div id="after-bottom"></div></div></div></div></article></div></main><div data-paywall-inert="" style="display:contents"><nav class="css-1jmk4jh" id="site-index" aria-labelledby="site-index-label" data-testid="site-index"><h2 class="css-1dv1kvn" id="site-index-label">Site Index</h2><div class="css-uc4bdz"></div></nav></div><div data-paywall-inert="" style="display:contents"><footer class="css-1e1s8k7" role="contentinfo"><nav id="footer" data-testid="footer" class="css-1qa4qp6"><h2 class="css-1dv1kvn">Site Information Navigation</h2><ul class="css-1ho5u4o edvi3so0"><li data-testid="copyright"><a class="css-jq1cx6" href="https://help.nytimes.com/hc/en-us/articles/115014792127-Copyright-Notice">© <span>2026</span> <span>The New York Times Company</span></a></li></ul><ul class="css-t8x4fj edvi3so1"><li class="css-a7htku edvi3so2"><a data-testid="footer-link" class="css-jq1cx6" href="https://www.nytco.com/">NYTCo</a></li><li class="css-a7htku edvi3so2"><a data-testid="footer-link" class="css-jq1cx6" href="https://help.nytimes.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015385887-Contact-The-New-York-Times">Contact Us</a></li><li class="css-a7htku edvi3so2"><a data-testid="footer-link" class="css-jq1cx6" href="https://help.nytimes.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015727108-Accessibility">Accessibility</a></li><li class="css-a7htku edvi3so2"><a data-testid="footer-link" class="css-jq1cx6" href="https://www.nytco.com/careers/">Work with us</a></li><li class="css-a7htku edvi3so2"><a data-testid="footer-link" class="css-jq1cx6" href="https://advertising.nytimes.com/">Advertise</a></li><li class="css-a7htku edvi3so2"><a data-testid="footer-link" class="css-jq1cx6" href="https://advertising.nytimes.com/custom-content/">T Brand Studio</a></li><li class="css-a7htku edvi3so2"><a data-testid="footer-link" class="css-jq1cx6" href="https://help.nytimes.com/hc/en-us/articles/10940941449492-The-New-York-Times-Company-Privacy-Policy">Privacy Policy</a></li><li class="css-a7htku edvi3so2"><a data-testid="footer-link" class="css-jq1cx6" href="https://www.nytimes.com/privacy/cookie-policy">Cookie Policy</a></li><li class="css-a7htku edvi3so2"><a data-testid="footer-link" class="css-jq1cx6" href="https://help.nytimes.com/hc/en-us/articles/115014893428-Terms-of-Service">Terms of Service</a></li><li class="css-a7htku edvi3so2"><a data-testid="footer-link" class="css-jq1cx6" href="https://help.nytimes.com/hc/en-us/articles/115014893968-Terms-of-Sale">Terms of Sale</a></li><li class="css-a7htku edvi3so2"><a data-testid="footer-link" class="css-jq1cx6" href="/sitemap/">Site Map</a></li><li class="mobileOnly css-a7htku edvi3so2"><a data-testid="footer-link" class="css-jq1cx6" href="https://www.nytimes.com/ca/">Canada</a></li><li class="mobileOnly css-a7htku edvi3so2"><a data-testid="footer-link" class="css-jq1cx6" href="https://www.nytimes.com/international/">International</a></li><li class="css-a7htku edvi3so2"><a data-testid="footer-link" class="css-jq1cx6" href="https://help.nytimes.com/hc/en-us">Help</a></li><li class="css-a7htku edvi3so2"><a data-testid="footer-link" rel="nofollow" class="css-jq1cx6" href="https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=37WXW">Subscriptions</a></li></ul><ul class="css-t8x4fj edvi3so1"><li class="css-a7htku edvi3so2"><a data-testid="privacy-preferences-link" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" class="css-jq1cx6" href="/privacy/manage-settings">Manage Privacy Preferences</a></li></ul></nav></footer></div></div></div></div> …