Ed Sheeran Addresses Macklemore Tour Exit, Calls Gaza Situation "Catastrophic"

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Sep 19, 2026 5:29pm PT

Ed Sheeran Addresses Macklemore Controversy While on Stage at First Concert Since Rapper Dropped From Tour: ‘What is Happening in Gaza is Catastrophic and Unjustifiable’

By Anna Tingley

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Anna Tingley

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Ed Sheeran addressed the controversy surrounding Macklemore ’s removal from his Loop Tour on Saturday night, speaking from the stage at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field during his first concert since the rapper was dropped from the trek.

“This is not usually an hourly moment in the show, but before I play some songs tonight, I hope it’s okay if I say a few words about this last week,” Sheeran said at the top of Saturday’s show. “I’m used to my music being criticized, and I’m always happy to take that because I’m lucky. A lot of you like my stuff, and to be honest, I’m surprised. I’m not surprised that I’ve even done it. You know, it’s normal. But this week, the criticism was about something much more important, and I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so so sorry.”

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_Originally reported by [Variety Music](https://variety.com/2026/music/news/ed-sheeran-addresses-macklemore-on-stage-philadelphia-show-1236869614/)._