In his statement, external<\/a>, Sheeran said he had spoken with the venues “at length all week to try and build a bridge” – but the promoters, Messina Touring Group, had ultimately decided to remove Macklemore from the bill.<\/p>\n“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” he wrote. “Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
While the star said he was \u201cappalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine” and that the “suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy”, he also attempted to explain his decision to keep political issues at arm\u2019s length.<\/p>\n
“I am not complicit,” he wrote. “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. <\/p>\n
“Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own, personal way.”<\/p>\n
He continued: “There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics – my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. <\/p>\n
“Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum. I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. <\/p>\n
“However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: Peace. <\/p>\n
“I 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.”<\/p>\n
Sheeran added that, \u201cas with all my support acts”, Macklemore had been allowed to choose his own setlist. <\/p>\n