Ed Sheeran has laid bare just how deeply the Macklemore controversy has impacted him… personally.
At the same show where the hitmaker apologized onstage and addressed the Gaza crisis head-on, he ended his set by breaking down about how longtime friends and even family members have been “backing away” amid the firestorm.
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Sheeran returned to the stage at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field following one of the most turbulent weeks of his career.
At the start of the show, the 35-year-old addressed the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from the ‘Loop Tour,’ apologized for mistakes made, and spoke candidly about Israel, Gaza, Palestine, and freedom of expression.
Yet, as the night progressed, the ordeal appeared to hit the hitmaker on an even more personal level.
Fighting back tears, Sheeran told the 50,000-capacity crowd:
“The world is a scary place right now. Tonight has been honestly the best show of my life. In these situations you really find out who your friends are… people I’ve known from years ago are backing away.”
Per Page Six, Sheeran said friends, family members, and people he had known for years appeared to be distancing themselves as calls mounted for him to cancel the tour.
The singer reportedly admitted that the fallout left him questioning whether the trek could continue, whether he would perform again, and even whether he still wanted to be an artist.
The raw admission adds another layer to a saga that has rapidly expanded since Macklemore was removed from the tour following his “Free Palestine” remarks.
FINNEAS, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and Beoga subsequently withdrew from scheduled dates, while Sheeran’s backing band also stepped away.
Macklemore, Sheeran, and Robert Kraft have since committed millions to humanitarian relief.
With that, what are…
