Several scheduled supporting acts pulled out of Ed Sheeran’s North American Loop Tour, leaving performances without openers and forcing promoters to shift start times and prices. Organisers moved the Philadelphia concert’s launch from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and resale listings showed the lowest ticket prices slide from $90 on Thursday to about $54 by Friday night, with an average around $62 by Saturday, a change described in publicity as a 50 percent drop from a week earlier.
Sheeran addressed the controversy at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, apologising for removing Macklemore and defending his response to the fallout. He told the crowd he was "so, so sorry," said he had "had to take and make difficult decisions," and acknowledged he was "used to criticism of his music" but had faced scrutiny "over a far larger issue." He described the October 7 events in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival as "horrific" and said they "compounded centuries of Jewish pain."
On Gaza, Sheeran said, "What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable, and disproportionate," and warned the West Bank’s situation could not be ignored. He added, "I am already speaking to people across the spectrum to work out how to make a contribution that helps victims of these terrible times, and listening and learning because I do not know enough." He framed his stance as humanitarian rather than political and said the scale of civilian loss made it impossible to remain silent.
The fallout followed Macklemore’s decision to show footage of Gaza and voice support for Palestine during two shows at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 4 and 5. In reaction to Sheeran’s removal of Macklemore, several artists who had been scheduled to open — including Aaron Rowe, Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Sheeran’s backing band Beoga — announced they would drop off the 22-city North American leg in solidarity. Sheeran performed in Philadelphia without any opening act, building each song live with a loop station and noting there was no backing track.
Ticketing and logistical consequences were visible to fans. Promoter notices adjusted times, tailgating began hours early with fans arriving from about 3:30 p.m., and secondary-market pricing showed material movement. Ticketmaster said refund policies are set by event organisers and directed inquiries to Messina Touring Group/AEG, and the Loop Tour promoter was contacted for comment. Sheeran closed by saying he would continue the tour while engaging people across viewpoints to determine how best to help victims during the unfolding humanitarian crisis.
