Weepy Ed Sheeran Says 'America Is a Scary Place Right Now' as He Addresses Fans in Philadelphia

Ed Sheeran broke down in tears in Philadelphia on Saturday night, telling fans 'America is a scary place right now' as he closed a controversy-hit concert at Lincoln Financial Field.

The visibly emotional singer, 35, struggled to compose himself while apologising to parents for bringing the Israel-Gaza issue into a show many had expected to be purely about music.

To recall, the night began with a public address about the controversy and the war in Gaza, hours after Sheeran took the stage for the first time since Macklemore was removed from his tour.

Ed Sheeran Breaks Down in Tears, Says 'America Is a Scary Place' at Philadelphia Concert

'I'm so grateful,' Sheeran told the crowd. 'The world is a scary place right now. America is a scary place right now. This gives hope.'

He thanked Philadelphia before acknowledging that families with children might not have bought tickets to hear him wade into Middle East politics.

'The one thing that I would like to apologise for is the first bit of the show where it wasn't about music and I had to talk,' he said. 'I understand that people have children here and I understand that families didn't buy a ticket to hear that first bit of the show, but that was something I felt like I needed to say.'

The singer then returned to the message he has long insisted sits at the heart of his concerts, bringing people together regardless of their differences.

'My shows are about this. They are about people coming together that don't know each other, that have different beliefs. They're about unity. They're about love. They're about family.'

As fans cheered, Sheeran vowed the controversy would not stop him from performing. 'You're jumping around like maniacs with each other and having fun. And I will never stop doing this. I will never stop doing this. I love doing this so much.'

The Tour Fallout and Venue Dispute

Earlier in the evening, Sheeran opened the concert with a solemn speech, saying he had tried in his career not to be a political commentator but could no longer hide how he felt about what he described as a humanitarian issue.

'What happened in Israel at Nova music festival on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain,' he said, according to footage captured and shared online by a concertgoer.

'What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.'

'My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians' lives, of children's lives, and the systemic injustice we're seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked,' he added.

Sheeran told the audience he planned to continue his current tour despite each of his openers dropping out following Macklemore's removal. In his address to fans on Saturday, he stated, 'I've had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I'm so, so sorry.'

He said he did not want to disappoint fans and had never wanted to be an activist musician, but the situation had put him in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech in one of the most complex political issues on the planet.

'Our concerts have always been a safe space for everyone, and that matters hugely to me. Honouring my commitment to my fans is also completely central to who I am and that is why I'm here tonight, on my own, and continuing my own tour.'

He went on to say he was deeply worried about the idea that venues could pre-approve content for performance. 'This happens in so many places that I've gone around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.'

The emotional finale came after a turbulent week in which Macklemore alleged that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft had rallied other stadium owners to issue an ultimatum, if Macklemore stayed on the tour, Sheeran would not be allowed to play in their venues.

Kraft later confirmed that Macklemore would not perform at Gillette Stadium, citing what he described as 'a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery' that he said had been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.

On Tuesday, Sheeran released his own statement on Instagram, saying it was not his decision to remove Macklemore from the tour, but rather the promoter's.

'I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living,' he added.

He has faced criticism from other artists, including Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, who criticised Sheeran on social media for not taking a stand against the decision. Finneas pulled out of his scheduled appearances in upcoming tour dates, stating that 'artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.'

Tour openers including Aaron Rowe and the band Lukas Graham, along with Sheeran's long-time backing folk band Beoga, also withdrew from the endeavour.

The precise circumstances surrounding Macklemore's removal remain disputed. Claims about coordination among stadium owners are based partly on statements from Macklemore and other parties and have not been independently established.