"My heart is broken." Ed Sheeran apologized for the situation involving Macklemore
British singer Ed Sheeran performed his first concert following the controversy involving rapper Macklemore, who was excluded from the concert program due to pro-Palestinian slogans.
"My heart is broken." Ed Sheeran apologized for the situation involving Macklemore
Sheeran admitted he made a mistake and commented on the conflict in the Middle East.
"I never wanted to be an activist-musician, but because of this situation, I found myself at the center of an important and heated debate about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet," Sheeran said before his concert in Philadelphia.
During the first concert of the Loop Tour in New Jersey on September 4, American rapper Macklemore, who took the stage to warm up the crowd, shouted "Free Palestine!"
He had done the same during the presentation of his song Hind's Hall, dedicated to the memory of a five-year-old girl who died during the Israeli military's attack on the Gaza Strip in 2024. Through this song, the musician also supported students protesting against Israel's actions at Columbia University.
During the concert on September 5, Macklemore addressed Jewish fans, saying that "criticizing Israel and apartheid, protesting against genocide is not criticizing all Jewish people."
The Israeli government has repeatedly denied allegations of organizing apartheid and genocide in Gaza.
The rapper's actions drew criticism from pro-Israel groups, including a petition demanding that Macklemore be removed from subsequent concerts on the tour.
Following this, Macklemore's performances on the tour were canceled, and billionaire Robert Kraft demanded that the rapper not be allowed to perform at his stadium.
Kraft, who belongs to the American Jewish community and supports Israel, accused the rapper of inciting hatred. He emphasized that the singer "only spreads selective information and ignores the actions of Hamas."
Afterward, all the artists brought in to warm up Sheeran's concerts refused to participate in the tour in solidarity with the rapper.
Because of this controversy, interest in the remainder of Sheeran's US tour declined, and tickets remained unsold despite being discounted.