{"id":632349,"date":"2026-09-22T10:36:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T10:36:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/632349\/"},"modified":"2026-09-22T10:36:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T10:36:09","slug":"ed-sheeran-breaks-down-onstage-as-family-abandons-him-over-macklemore-fallout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/632349\/","title":{"rendered":"Ed Sheeran breaks down onstage as family \u2018abandons\u2019 him over Macklemore fallout"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ed Sheeran<\/a> broke down in tears onstage in Philadelphia after saying friends and relatives had distanced themselves from him amid the fallout over rapper Macklemore\u2019s removal from his tour following pro-Palestinian remarks.<\/p>\n

The 35-year-old singer addressed the controversy during his Saturday night performance at Lincoln Financial Field, at one point sitting down onstage as he described what he called one of the hardest weeks of his life.<\/p>\n

@hellocanadamag<\/a> Ed Sheeran broke down at the end of his Philadelphia show, overwhelmed by the crowd\u2019s support after a tumultuous week that left him without any opening acts. Macklemore was removed from the tour following his pro-Palestinian remarks, prompting Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga to withdraw in solidarity. Ed told the audience the decision to drop Macklemore wasn\u2019t his, and addressed the devastating conflict before continuing with the concert alone. \u201cThe world is a scary place right now\u2026 This gives hope,\u201d he said as the night came to an emotional close. \u201cI\u2019ll never stop doing this.\u201d #edsheeran<\/a> \u266c original sound – HELLO! Canada Magazine<\/a> <\/p>\n

The dispute began earlier this month after Macklemore, who had been appearing as an opening act at Sheeran\u2019s New Jersey shows, repeatedly called to \u201cfree Palestine\u201d from the stage. Macklemore was subsequently removed from the tour, prompting criticism of Sheeran and a wave of withdrawals by other opening acts, including members of his supporting band, according to the report.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn situations like this, you really find out who your friends are. It\u2019s been a strange week,\u201d Sheeran told the crowd. \u201cIt happened very quickly. At the same time, so many people told me to cancel this tour, and so many people I\u2019ve known for years and years are just distancing themselves from me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sheeran said the reaction around him contrasted sharply with what he was seeing from fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cI looked at the ticket sales for this show and I didn\u2019t see cancellations, I saw people buying tickets to this show,\u201d he said. \u201cBut everyone is telling me to cancel, and I feel like all my friends and family and people I know are abandoning me.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said he decided to continue performing rather than disappoint concertgoers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI look at this weekend and I see 50,000 people who haven\u2019t abandoned me,\u201d Sheeran said. \u201cPeople will say what they want, but I do this for you. I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the crowd responded with cheers, Sheeran began crying, saying he had feared he might instead be met with boos.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe world is a scary place right now. America is a scary place right now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The singer also revealed that unusual security precautions had been taken for the Philadelphia show because he feared people might throw objects at him while he performed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry that today isn\u2019t a normal show,\u201d he told the audience. \u201cI took out the B stage because I was scared about what might happen if I stood in the middle. And I admit that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sheeran did not identify the relatives who had cut contact with him, but the public dispute has also reached his own family.<\/p>\n

His cousin, Jethro Sheeran, attacked him in an Instagram post on Thursday, saying he was \u201cashamed\u201d of the singer and accusing him of treating him badly.<\/p>\n

\u201cFinally it\u2019s all coming out,\u201d Jethro wrote. \u201cI\u2019m ashamed of my cousin Ed and what he has done. Finally the world and all his fans are seeing who he really is.\u201d<\/p>\n

He went on to call Sheeran \u201cselfish\u201d and accused him of mocking his mental health.<\/p>\n

The upheaval has pushed Sheeran, who initially became embroiled in the Israel-Gaza debate through Macklemore\u2019s appearances at his shows, into a controversy that has now spread far beyond the original decision to remove the rapper.<\/p>\n

Onstage in Philadelphia, however, Sheeran framed his decision to keep performing around the audience in front of him, thanking tens of thousands of fans for showing up despite the calls for him to cancel.<\/p>\n