Ed Sheeran‘S Ribbon The tour looked a lot different than fans might have expected when the singer-songwriter took the stage in Philadelphia.
On Saturday, September 19th, multiple fan accounts revealed that staging would not be included for that evening’s performance at Lincoln Financial Field a B stage.
Sheeran, 35, has traditionally fulfilled fan requests on this side stage for part of his career Ribbon Touring concerts. (At the time of publication, song requests were not being accepted in Philadelphia.)
It’s undoubtedly been a turbulent week for Sheeran following the controversy Macklemore as being dropped Ribbon Tour support act.
Children’s entertainer Rachel has pledged to donate $1 million to charity after Macklemore was banned from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour over his public support for Palestinians. “I will match Macklemore’s donation and invite every white celebrity to get involved and speak out against the genocide in Gaza,” announced Ms. Rachel, 43 (…)
The 43-year-old “Same Love” rapper sparked controversy when he opened for Sheeran at two concerts at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium earlier this month when he declared “Free Palestine” during a performance of his protest song “Hind’s Hall.”
Sheeran was reportedly under pressure from tour promoters and venue owners – including the owner of Gillette Stadium Robert Kraft – about allowing Macklemore to continue performing at upcoming shows. Macklemore was eventually sent off as one of Sheeran’s openers on Monday September 14th.
“Ed Sheeran and his team have made the decision to remove me from it Ribbon Tour. I am not a victim. Ed Sheeran is not a victim,” Macklemore wrote in a statement on Monday. “We have careers, money, opportunities, security and audiences around the world.” No matter what consequences any of us face for what we say, we can go home to our families.”
The hip-hop star added: “(Ed) told me that the words ‘Free Palestine’ and the image of the Palestinian flag were hurtful to many people he spoke to. I hope that this is not the end of my relationship with Ed. Thirteen years of friendship are not lost because of a painful disagreement. I hope that we both continue to listen, study what is happening in Palestine and grapple with the question of what neutrality means in a moment like this means “My door will always be open to continue this conversation.”
Ed Sheeran and Macklemore perform on stage at the 2014 iHeartRadio Music Festival.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMediaSheeran broke his silence on the brewing scandal on Tuesday, September 15, denying that he personally decided to remove Macklemore from eight scheduled concerts.
“I have spoken extensively with venues all week to try to build a bridge. … I have spent this week building bridges, finding a solution, but unfortunately have been unable to do so,” Sheeran wrote in a statement. “I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and whoever knows my heart also knows my values.”
Macklemore has continued his commitment by donating his $1 million Ribbon Travel salaries to Palestinian organizations. He urged Kraft, 85, to do the same – with the New England Patriots owner later confirming he had matched Sheeran’s own $2 million donation to support humanitarian relief.
Before Saturday Ribbon The tour stop was in Philadelphia. Fans were told the show would begin at 8:00 p.m. ET rather than the traditional 5:30 p.m. show time. The change was likely caused by support acts Transcript And Luke Graham He canceled the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.
Ticket prices on the resale market also apparently took a hit ahead of the Philly performance, as seats that were listed at $100 on Tuesday fell to just $42 on Saturday.
For his part, Sheeran opened the Philadelphia show with a lengthy statement about last week’s events.
“This week the criticism was about something much more important and I had to accept it and make difficult decisions and I make mistakes and I’m so sorry,” he told fans.
Sheeran said he was “in the middle of an important, passionate argument” – before condemning both the “horrific” violence on October 7, 2023 and the “catastrophic and unjustified” loss of life in Gaza. (The The United Nations has issued a report in June, saying that 20,000 children have been killed and more than 44,000 injured in the region since hostilities escalated on October 7, 2023.)
“I’m listening and learning. I don’t know enough (about the conflict),” he admitted.
Sheeran is scheduled to play at Kraft-owned Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Friday, September 25th and Saturday, September 26th.
