Ed Sheeran wept on stage while discussing the controversy around his ‘Loop’ tour. The singer said he felt his family, friends and longtime acquaintances had “abandoned” him.

The controversy began after rapper Macklemore lost his place on the tour. He had made pro-Palestinian comments during a performance at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium earlier this month.

Macklemore shouted “Free Palestine!” during the show. He also told Palestinians they were “not forgotten”.

Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Beoga and Lukas Graham later announced their exits from the tour.

Sheeran addresses the controversy

At the opening concert, Sheeran said he was used to criticism of his music. However, he said the latest backlash focused on a much bigger issue.

“I am used to my music being criticised. The criticism was about something much more important. I do not want to disappoint fans. And I have never wanted to be an activist musician,” he said.

Sheeran also spoke against venues that ask performers to submit their content for approval.

“I am deeply worried about the idea that venues should pre-approve content of performers. This happens in so many places that I have performed around the world, but it should never happen in a free world,” he said.

The singer then addressed the Israel-Palestine conflict.

“What happened in Israel and at the Nova music festival on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.”

Sheeran said some people had urged him to cancel the tour. He also said people he had known for years started to distance themselves.

“It happened very quickly. At the same time, I had so many people telling me to cancel this tour and so many people I’ve known for years and years and years they’re kind of backing away,” he said.

Despite the calls to cancel, Sheeran said he saw fans continuing to buy tickets.

“In the back of my mind, I saw the ticket sales for this gig, and I didn’t see cancellations; I saw people buying tickets for this gig. Everyone’s telling me to cancel, and I am feeling all of my friends and family and people I know abandon me.”

Macklemore earlier said he would donate his entire $1 million net earnings from the ‘Loop’ tour to organisations supporting Palestinians.

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