Ed Sheeran Accused of Reading Apology From Teleprompter After Tearful Speech Over Macklemore Tour Removal

Ed Sheeran's tearful on-stage apology addressed a chapter of controversy but has since opened a new one, with the pop star facing fresh scrutiny over his emotional speech at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday night.

Taking the stage roughly two-and-a-half hours later than scheduled, Sheeran broke down as he addressed the fallout surrounding Macklemore's removal from his Loop tour.

Within hours, footage circulating on social media appeared to show him glancing repeatedly downwards, prompting speculation that he had been reading from a teleprompter. The moment, intended to address a week of turmoil, has instead reignited debate online.

The Apology That Sparked a Backlash

Sheeran told the crowd, 'This is not usually how I would open the show' before addressing the controversy of the previous week. He said: 'I've had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes and I'm so, so sorry.'

He went on to distance himself from being a 'political commentator of any kind', describing what happened on 7 October as 'horrific' and something that 'compounded centuries of Jewish pain', before calling the situation in Gaza 'catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate'.

Notably, he made no direct mention of Macklemore or anyone else involved in the previous week's events.

Sheeran added that the episode had made him question whether the tour would continue at all, telling fans: 'I didn't know if this tour would be carrying on.' His comments came after he had previously said the decision to remove Macklemore was made by promoter Messina Touring Group after venues said they would not allow the rapper to perform.

The Macklemore Fallout and Support Act Departures

The apology followed a chaotic week that began when Macklemore voiced support for Palestinians during a support slot at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 4 September.

According to Macklemore, multiple stadium owners along the remaining tour route contacted Messina Touring Group, the promoter behind Sheeran's dates, warning they would pull the shows if he stayed on the bill.

Macklemore alleged that Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium near Boston, had rallied other venue owners and that they collectively gave Sheeran an ultimatum: drop Macklemore or lose the venues.

Kraft confirmed that Macklemore would not perform at Gillette Stadium, but the wider claim about other stadium owners has not been independently established.

Sheeran said venues on his upcoming dates had communicated that they would cancel the shows if Macklemore continued to appear alongside him. The fallout was followed by the withdrawal of support acts Finneas, Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham, along with Sheeran's own backing band Beoga, in solidarity with Macklemore.

Sheeran was left without the scheduled supporting acts for the Philadelphia date, performing with five musicians who had reportedly learned his songs in just three days. Macklemore has since pledged to donate $1 million (£740,000) in tour earnings to Palestinian aid organisations.

Teleprompter Claims Fuel Social Media Backlash

It was not only the substance of Sheeran's words but also the manner of their delivery that dominated online reaction. Video footage posted on X appeared to show Sheeran repeatedly looking down during his speech, prompting some viewers to speculate that he was reading from a teleprompter.

A further clip, shared under a caption describing Sheeran as crying while reading a message 'from the heart', added to the online discussion. Critics argued that the apparent reliance on prepared remarks made the moment feel less spontaneous, while others focused on Sheeran's apology rather than how he delivered it.

Reaction on social platforms was blunt, with one widely shared post cataloguing grievances against the singer and criticising his response to the controversy. Others compared Sheeran's emotional address with Macklemore's $1 million donation pledge, arguing that the financial commitment made the singer's apology appear less meaningful.

Tour Continues Amid Scrutiny

Despite the backlash, the Loop tour presses on, with Sheeran scheduled to play Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on 25 and 26 September.

The venue is owned by Robert Kraft, who confirmed that Macklemore would not be allowed to perform there following his comments and what Kraft described as a broader history of rhetoric and imagery that he believed was deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.

Sheeran has not issued any further public comment specifically addressing the teleprompter speculation, and no representative for the singer had responded to the claims at the time of writing. The tour is scheduled to continue with Sheeran performing without the support acts who withdrew following Macklemore's removal.