Ed Sheeran restarted his US Loop Tour in Philadelphia, but the return came without his scheduled supporting acts and under the glare of pro-Palestinian demonstrators. The singer opened his set at Lincoln Financial Field by describing the situation in Gaza as "catastrophic", "unjustifiable" and "disproportionate", his first public comments since the row over the tour's opening act.
The controversy began after American rapper Macklemore was removed from the bill following pro-Palestine remarks he made at a New Jersey concert. Sheeran has denied ordering the removal and said the decision was made by the tour promoter. All four of the tour's announced support acts subsequently withdrew from the North America run, leaving Sheeran to perform solo.
Finneas, one of the artists who walked away, reiterated his position on social media. "Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed," he wrote on Instagram last Tuesday, adding, "I stand with Palestine and its people." Finneas and his sister have previously been vocal in support of Palestine, and other collaborators issued public statements explaining their departures.
Outside the stadium roughly 50 demonstrators gathered before the show, waving Palestinian flags and chanting "Free, free Palestine." The absence of opening acts delayed the concert start by two and a half hours, organisers said, and Sheeran took the stage alone.
The dispute has split fans at the venue. Hillary Steinberg, 34, said she had returned a ticket and joined the demonstration, telling reporters, "I was, until this week, a big Ed Sheeran fan," and arguing that music and art are political. Other attendees declined to make the issue central to their experience; Joy VanRuler, 55, said, "It doesn’t need to be political. It’s about the music, and we support both of them and it’s all good."
The singer's remarks and the departures of multiple opening acts have reshaped the atmosphere of the Loop Tour's North America dates, turning logistical gaps into a focal point for protest and public debate as the run continues.
