Ed Sheeran Calls Philadelphia Concert His 'Best Show' After Macklemore Tour Backlash

British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran fought back tears on stage at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, admitting he questioned whether to continue his massive North American tour following a severe backstage fallout.

The high-stakes concert proceeded without its original supporting lineup after rapper Macklemore was dropped from the bill over pro-Palestinian comments made during a New Jersey performance. The controversial removal triggered an immediate chain reaction, resulting in walkouts by several supporting artists and touring musicians.

Addressing a crowd of 50,000 attendees, Sheeran broke his silence on the geopolitical tensions and termed the concert the 'best show of my life'.

Though he insisted the decision to remove Macklemore rested entirely with the tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, rather than himself, the gruelling public pressure left the Grammy-winning artist doubting his future in the industry before ultimate fan support pulled him back to the stage.

Protesters gathered outside the Philadelphia venue, where Sheeran addressed the criticism before later praising the show.

Ed Sheeran Faces Withdrawals

The disruption changed Saturday's schedule. The concert, part of the US leg of his Loop tour, was moved from 5.30pm to 8pm Eastern Time after his opening acts quit. Sheeran performed with a different group of backing musicians.

Earlier in the week, Macklemore announced that he had been dropped from the remaining US dates. He said Sheeran told him Robert Kraft, chief executive of the Kraft Group and owner of Gillette Stadium, had called to say the rapper could not perform at the venue.

Sheeran described the removal as 'the promoter's decision' and said he would not be drawn into a public debate about the Gaza war. Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, Danish band Lukas Graham and Finneas subsequently announced their withdrawals on Instagram.

The departures affected different parts of the tour. Rowe had been brought in to replace Macklemore on remaining US dates, while Beoga was Sheeran's touring band. Finneas, Billie Eilish's brother and collaborator, had been scheduled to join the South American dates later this year.

Macklemore also announced a donation from his tour earnings to organisations aiding Palestinians and challenged Kraft to match it. Separately, Kraft acknowledged that Sheeran had asked him to match the singer's donation.

Kraft said they planned to 'work together to build bridges'. The Independent reported that there was no confirmation Kraft had yet matched Sheeran's donation. Sheeran's next performance is scheduled for 25 September at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.

Ed Sheeran Addresses Fans

At the start of Saturday's concert, Sheeran addressed both the 7 October attack in Israel and the war in Gaza. He described what happened in Israel and at the music festival as horrific, and the situation in Gaza as 'catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate'.

He also spoke about civilian deaths, children's lives lost and systemic injustice in the West Bank. Near the end, his remarks turned to whether he could keep performing. He described the previous week as one of the worst of his life and the day of the concert as one of the weirdest.

'I really didn't know whether this tour would carry on, I really didn't know whether I'd get on stage again, whether I even wanted to be an artist at all,' he said.

He said people had urged him to cancel and that friends and people he had known for years were withdrawing from his life. Addressing those present, he said he saw 50,000 people who had not abandoned him.

Sheeran spoke about concertgoers with different religious and political views sharing the evening. His comments presented the audience as his reason for continuing, despite his doubts about returning to the stage. 'I can't let you guys down. That's why I'm here tonight, on my own, for you guys.'

Sheeran emphasised that his primary goal remains fostering musical spaces where diverse human perspectives can coexist peacefully.