Ed Sheeran has opened his latest concert solo, admitting that he made mistakes and addressing the furore caused after his US opener Macklemore was dropped for making Pro-Palestinian remarks onstage.
“I never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about free speech and the most complex political issue on the planet,” he said. “My concerts have always been a safe space for everyone and that matters hugely to me.”
US rapper Macklemore was removed as the support act for Sheeran’s Loop tour last Monday (AEST) after complaints from the owners of several stadiums that he was scheduled to perform at.
They reportedly took issue with the artist’s “Free Palestine” comments, which he made during a performance at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium earlier this month. Following his removal, all four supporting acts and the touring band of Sheeran’s tour pulled out as a show of support for Macklemore and Palestine.
Sheeran resumed his tour on Sunday (AEST) at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, marking his first time on stage since the supporting act exodus. He confirmed he was returning to the stage on his own.
As of Sunday morning, tickets were still available to purchase online and Sheeran’s website did not list any replacement acts.
According to the BBC, ticket prices for the concert dropped to as low as $US32 ($45) following the controversy, and sales declined for the remaining US leg. This is in stark contrast to his previous tour, which became one of the highest-grossing of all time.
At the beginning of the Philadelphia show, Sheeran expressed his commitment to the fans, explaining that was the reason why he returned to the stage. He said he had “made mistakes” while making “difficult decisions”.
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “I am deeply worried about the idea that venues should pre-approve content of the performers. This happens in so many places that I’ve performed in around the world, but it should never happen in a free world.”
He also addressed his stance on the war in Israel and Palestine, noting that he has avoided being a political commentator of any kind throughout his career because he wants his music and shows to “be about unity, not division; about humanity, not politics”. However, he said he could no longer hide his feelings.
“What happened in Israel at a known music festival on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic, and unjustifiable, and disproportionate. My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians’ lives, of children’s lives, and the systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.”
A group of about 50 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside the stadium ahead of the Philadelphia show. Hillary Steinberg, a 34-year-old Philadelphia local, said she got tickets a year ago but wound up getting a refund and attending the demonstration instead, disappointed by Sheeran’s apolitical stance.
“I was, until this week, a big Ed Sheeran fan,” Steinberg said. “I think all art is political, and all music is political, and so this choice – even though he was saying that he wasn’t complicit – is a political choice.”
The concert was originally supposed to begin with opening acts at 5.30pm (US time), but this was pushed back to 8pm following the supporting acts’ exit. Footage by fans inside the venue reportedly shows patches of empty seats shortly before start time.
Notably, The Shape of You singer performs the majority of his Loop tour gigs solo using a loop pedal. However, the Irish folk band Boega previously joined him on stage for tracks like Galway Girl and Nancy Mulligan. Macklemore, Sheeran’s original US opener, was replaced by Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe before they backed out.
Sheeran claimed it wasn’t his choice to axe Macklemore from the tour and said it was the tour promoter’s decision. In a statement shared on Instagram on Wednesday (AEST), the Grammy winner said he does not use his professional platform for politics, and that the fans who attend his shows “do not expect a political forum”.
He also said he attempted to reason with venue owners to try to “build a bridge” before Macklemore was removed.
While promoters and venues wield great power over concert tours, experts say an artist of Sheeran’s magnitude generally has the final say about what happens concerning the shows.
Diane Savitz, a 53-year-old concertgoer from Pennsylvania, got her tickets to the show months ago and is a big Sheeran fan. She said she didn’t think he did anything wrong, or that a concert is the place for politics.
“A concert should be for people enjoying the music. Music should bring people together,” Savitz said. “Everyone has their right to freedom of speech, but not every platform is the place for it.”
Earlier this week, Macklemore revealed that he would donate $US1 million to support Palestinian relief efforts and encouraged New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to match it.
A spokesperson for Kraft has said the stadium owner and Sheeran have each agreed to donate $US2 million; however, it remains uncertain where the money will be directed.
with AP
The Booklist is a weekly newsletter for book lovers from Jason Steger. Get it delivered every Friday.
Nell Geraets is a Culture reporter at The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.From our partners
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
