A Teary Ed Sheeran Apologizes to His Fans as Tour Resumes With No Openers - WSJ
Wall Street Journal
W
Wall Street Journal
Original Source
Ed Sheeran publicly apologized Saturday night for his missteps, declaring he can no longer remain silent after rapper Macklemore was removed from the tour due to pro-Palestinian statements. The pop star took a clear stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, condemning Hamas's October 7 attack as "horrific" while describing Gaza's situation as "catastrophic and disproportionate."
A Teary Ed Sheeran Apologizes to His Fans as Tour Resumes With No Openers - WSJ
* What to Read Next
* Most Popular News
* Most Popular Opinion
* Recommended Videos
The Wall Street Journal
SubscribeSign In
* Use Alt + Down Arrow to expand.
* Print Edition
* Video
* Audio
* Latest Headlines
* Puzzles
*
* World
* Business
* U.S.
* Politics
* Economy
* Tech
* Markets & Finance
* Opinion
* Free Expression
* Arts
* Lifestyle
* Real Estate
* Personal Finance
* Health
* Style
* Sports
Advertisement
This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by
our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact
Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/music/defiant-ed-sheeran-fans-show-up-for-the-musicnot-controversyas-tour-resumes-with-no-billed-openers-77e869fd
1. Arts & Culture
2. Music
A Teary Ed Sheeran Apologizes to His Fans as Tour Resumes With No Openers
Many in the Philadelphia crowd say they’re there for music—not controversy
By
Elias Leight
Updated
Sept. 19, 2026 9:27 pmET
---
You may also like
Your browser does not support HTML5 video.
Paused
0:00/
0:00
*A pro-Palestinian rally near an Ed Sheeran concert in Philadelphia. Photo: Allie Ippolito/Associated Press*
PHILADELPHIA—Ed Sheeran wasted no time in addressing the controversy that has engulfed his tour when he took the stage at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday night.
“I am making mistakes, and I’m so, so sorry,” he said, before continuing, “I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician.”
But after the rapper Macklemore was booted off the tour this week due to his statements in support of Palestinians, and other openers pulled out in solidarity, the pop star told the crowd he “cannot hide” his views anymore.
Sheeran called the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, “horrific,” and said it “compounded centuries of Jewish pain.” He continued: “What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.”
Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Continue reading your article with
a WSJ subscription
Subscribe Now
Already a subscriber? Sign In
---
Videos
Advertisement
---
Most Popular News
A Teary Ed Sheeran Apologizes to His Fans as Tour Resumes With No Openers
Patients Sue GLP-1 Drugmakers Over Risk of Sudden Vision Loss
Law Firms Have a Big Problem: Senior Partners Aren’t Retiring
Yemen’s Houthis Claim Attack on Saudi Capital After Fuel Depot Burns at Airport
The 13 New TV Shows to Binge This Fall
---
Most Popular
OPINION
You Probably Have the Iran War Backward
The Saudis, the Houthis, and Israel
The Tariff Gift to Abdul El-Sayed
Troubling Times at the Jewish Museum Berlin
Jon Kyl, American Conservative
---
Recommended Videos
Advertisement
* What to Read Next
* Most Popular News
* Most Popular Opinion
* Recommended Videos
The Wall Street Journal
SubscribeSign In
* Use Alt + Down Arrow to expand.
* Print Edition
* Video
* Audio
* Latest Headlines
* Puzzles
*
* World
* Business
* U.S.
* Politics
* Economy
* Tech
* Markets & Finance
* Opinion
* Free Expression
* Arts
* Lifestyle
* Real Estate
* Personal Finance
* Health
* Style
* Sports
Advertisement
This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by
our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact
Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/music/defiant-ed-sheeran-fans-show-up-for-the-musicnot-controversyas-tour-resumes-with-no-billed-openers-77e869fd
1. Arts & Culture
2. Music
A Teary Ed Sheeran Apologizes to His Fans as Tour Resumes With No Openers
Many in the Philadelphia crowd say they’re there for music—not controversy
By
Elias Leight
Updated
Sept. 19, 2026 9:27 pmET
---
You may also like
Your browser does not support HTML5 video.
Paused
0:00/
0:00
*A pro-Palestinian rally near an Ed Sheeran concert in Philadelphia. Photo: Allie Ippolito/Associated Press*
PHILADELPHIA—Ed Sheeran wasted no time in addressing the controversy that has engulfed his tour when he took the stage at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday night.
“I am making mistakes, and I’m so, so sorry,” he said, before continuing, “I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician.”
But after the rapper Macklemore was booted off the tour this week due to his statements in support of Palestinians, and other openers pulled out in solidarity, the pop star told the crowd he “cannot hide” his views anymore.
Sheeran called the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, “horrific,” and said it “compounded centuries of Jewish pain.” He continued: “What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.”
Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Continue reading your article with
a WSJ subscription
Subscribe Now
Already a subscriber? Sign In
---
Videos
Advertisement
---
Most Popular News
A Teary Ed Sheeran Apologizes to His Fans as Tour Resumes With No Openers
Patients Sue GLP-1 Drugmakers Over Risk of Sudden Vision Loss
Law Firms Have a Big Problem: Senior Partners Aren’t Retiring
Yemen’s Houthis Claim Attack on Saudi Capital After Fuel Depot Burns at Airport
The 13 New TV Shows to Binge This Fall
---
Most Popular
OPINION
You Probably Have the Iran War Backward
The Saudis, the Houthis, and Israel
The Tariff Gift to Abdul El-Sayed
Troubling Times at the Jewish Museum Berlin
Jon Kyl, American Conservative
---
Recommended Videos
Advertisement
🔗 Share Article
Tags:#إد شيران#الموسيقى#النزاع الإسرائيلي الفلسطيني#فيلادلفيا#الفنون#الجدل
Source: Wall Street Journal
For Context
Related reads from the same topic or latest developments