appeared to confirm this claim in his own Instagram statement<\/a>, with which he captioned the post: \u201cIt\u2019s important that I set out some facts.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cI am appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine,\u201d Sheeran wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy. There are too many wars across the world causing immeasurable pain, none of which should be tolerated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sheeran said he had spoken with the venues \u201call week to try and build a bridge\u201d, but promoters Messina Touring Group had decided to remove Macklemore from the bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cMacklemore coming off tour was the promoter\u2019s decision, it was not mine,\u201d Sheeran wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sheeran also tried to explain his decision to avoid political stances.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Macklemore had said that Sheeran seeks to adopt a \u201ctypical apolitical stance\u201d on contentious issues but that this had been \u201cchallenged in a way it never had been before\u201d.<\/p>\n
In response, Sheeran said today that was \u201cnot complicit\u201d on the issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn\u2019t mean I don\u2019t have them, and it doesn\u2019t mean I don\u2019t care,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cNor does it mean I don\u2019t support causes in my own, personal way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sheeran continued: \u201cThere is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics \u2013 my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose who come to my shows do not expect a political forum. I respect Macklemore\u2019s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: Peace.<\/p>\n
\u201cI choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed. If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change. There are different approaches to being an advocate for change.\u201d<\/p>\n