ATTENTION - Updates with Ed Sheeran comments ///
British pop star Ed Sheeran said Saturday at a concert in the United States that the situation in Gaza is "unjustifiable," following a controversy over his refusal to back the pro-Palestinian comments made by his opening act.
Sheeran, 35, denied having been behind the decision to remove rapper Macklemore from the tour, pointing the finger at the tour promoter.
"What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate," Sheeran declared as the concert began in Philadelphia, his first performance since the controversy erupted.
Macklemore was dropped Monday from Sheeran's American Loop Tour after the owners of stadiums hosting upcoming shows objected to him shouting "Free Palestine!" during a performance in New Jersey earlier this month.
Subsequently, four opening acts parted ways with the "Shape of You" singer, issuing public statements citing their support for Palestinians.
"I've had to make difficult decisions and I've made mistakes, and I'm so sorry," Sheeran told the crowd, visibly emotional, to a standing ovation.
Critics accused the artist of failing to stand up to the stadium owners — led by billionaire businessman Robert Kraft — amid calls for a boycott.
A few dozen pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside Lincoln Financial Field before the concert, waving Palestinian flags and chanting "Free Palestine."
Police officers monitored the peaceful gathering from a distance.
Some fans entering the stadium said they had considered not attending because of the controversy, but ultimately decided to go and enjoy the music.
Others, like Brandon Ateke, changed their plans. The 18-year-old Brown University student accused Sheeran of "complicity" with Kraft in the attempt to silence Macklemore.
"I decided not to go to the concert and instead come to the protest to bring visibility to the genocide taking place in Gaza today," he told AFP.
At a time when a growing number of artists are speaking out against the conflict in Gaza and settler violence in the West Bank, Sheeran had until now maintained an apolitical stance.
"I am not complicit. I have personal opinions about this devastating conflict. The fact that I choose not to express them publicly doesn't mean they don't exist or that I don't care," he wrote Tuesday on Instagram.
"Those who come to my concerts don't expect a political forum," he added.
- Solo concert? -
Sheeran opened his Saturday night concert alone on stage, with no opening act.
Among the groups that left the tour were Sheeran's backing band, as well as musician Finneas, who rose to fame collaborating with his sister, pop superstar Billie Eilish.
Since Israel invaded Gaza in October 2023, following the worst attack in the country's history carried out by the Islamist group Hamas, the human toll and the question of Palestinian rights have become a rallying cry in the entertainment industry.
From the Oscars to the Emmys, through the top music awards and European film festivals, the war in Gaza has frequently forced its way onto the agenda.
The Israeli offensive in Gaza has left most of the territory in ruins and has caused the death of more than 73,800 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, under Hamas authority.
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