Breaking: Ed Sheeran calls Gaza situation 'unjustifiable' as he opens solo concert
By North America correspondent Lauren Day in Philadelphia and wires
Posted
Pro-Palestinian protesters have gathered outside the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia as Ed Sheeran returns to the stage. (ABC News: Lauren Day)
In short:
Pop superstar Ed Sheeran is returning to the stage after he became embroiled in a controversy that saw four supporting acts quit his Shape of You tour.
Rapper Macklemore was dropped from the tour after owners of stadiums hosting upcoming shows objected to his pro-Palestinian comments on stage, prompting other supporting acts to quit.
Pro-Palestinian protesters have gathered outside the Philadelphia stadium where Sheeran will perform.
Protesters have descended on a Philadelphia stadium as Ed Sheeran returns to the stage after becoming embroiled in controversy set off by his opening act's pro-Palestinian comments.
Rapper Macklemore was booted from Sheeran's US Loop Tour on Monday, local time, after the owners of stadiums hosting upcoming shows objected to his shouting "Free Palestine" onstage in New Jersey earlier this month.
Sheeran has denied being behind the decision to remove Macklemore, saying his tour's promoter was responsible.
But four supporting acts soon quit the Shape of You singer's tour. They included Sheeran's backing band as well as performer Finneas, who rose to fame collaborating with his pop superstar sister Billie Eilish.
At a time when a growing number of artists are speaking out against the conflict in Gaza and West Bank settler violence, the 35-year-old British performer has maintained his apolitical stance.
"I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn't mean I don't have them, and it doesn't mean I don't care," he said on Instagram on Tuesday.
Ed Sheeran says the tour promoter was responsible for dropping Macklemore. (AP: Andy Kropa/Invision/File)
However, he said, "those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum".
No new opening acts or backing bands have been announced, and it is not known how Sheeran plans to carry out his show in Philadelphia on Saturday night.
Speaking to the ABC outside the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, protest organiser Adi Chattopadhyay said "there is a right and wrong side of history and [Sheeran's] on the wrong one".
"If he wants to engage with this city, if he wants to engage with the community at a meaningful level, then he needs to take a stance," he said.
"He needs to be more in favour and advocating for a free Palestine, otherwise things like this will continue to happen."
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather at a Philadelphia train station prior to the protest. (AP: Allie Ippolito)
Protester Donna Greenberg described the protests as "a cultural watershed moment".
"It gives people who are pro-Palestinian an opportunity to educate other people in a way that we have not been able to do before," she said.
The former busker-turned-superstar, accused by critics of failing to stand up to the stadium owners, has been targeted by boycott calls over the controversy.
A pro-Palestinian group has urged artists, fans and crew members to stay away from Sheeran's concerts on three continents.
"We now extend our call for boycotting Ed Sheeran's entire world tour, including the upcoming Latin American dates, and the as-yet-unannounced European leg," the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel said in a statement.
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