Ed Sheeran has returned to the stage for the first time since his ‘Loop’ tour was thrown into crisis, admitting to fans in Philadelphia that he had “made mistakes” during a week of significant controversy.
The singer-songwriter performed a solo set at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, 19 September 2026, after his entire supporting line-up and backing band withdrew from the tour in protest. The show, which was delayed by two and a half hours, saw Sheeran address the crowd through a pre-written statement displayed on a teleprompter.
“I have made mistakes,” Sheeran told the audience, offering what he described as a sincere apology for the events of the past week.
The turmoil began after the removal of American rapper Macklemore from the tour bill. According to the promoter, Messina Touring Group, the decision was made after several stadium owners warned they would not host the shows if Macklemore remained. This followed pro-Palestinian remarks made by the rapper during a performance at MetLife Stadium on 4 September.
Comments on the Middle East
During his Philadelphia appearance, Sheeran broke his silence on the conflict in the Middle East. He described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic, unjustifiable and disproportionate,” while also condemning the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel as “horrific”.
His comments come as he attempts to steady a tour that has faced a wave of high-profile departures. Following the removal of Macklemore, other scheduled support acts—including Finneas, Aaron Rowe, and Lukas Graham—withdrew in solidarity. Sheeran’s own backing band, the Irish group Beoga, also pulled out of the remaining dates.
According to The Guardian, the promoter’s stance has been a point of contention, with Sheeran previously stating that the decision to drop Macklemore rested with the touring group rather than himself.
Impact on the Philadelphia show
The loss of the supporting acts had a visible impact on the event’s logistics. The concert’s start time was pushed back from its original 5:30pm slot to 8:00pm to account for the lack of opening entertainment.
Market reaction to the controversy was also evident in the days leading up to the performance. Resale ticket prices for the Philadelphia date reportedly dropped to as low as $32 (approximately £24) as the tour’s future was debated on social media.
While Sheeran performed alone on Saturday, the status of the remaining ‘Loop’ tour dates in cities such as Foxborough and Atlanta remains unconfirmed. It is currently unclear whether the tour will continue as a purely solo production or if new supporting acts will be recruited at short notice. Fans attending future dates have not yet been informed of any formal refund eligibility regarding the changes to the advertised line-up.
