Ed Sheeran Claims Family, Friends Abandoned Him Amid Macklemore Controversy

Ed Sheeran revealed he felt abandoned by family and close friends in the wake of controversy surrounding rapper Macklemore's pro-Palestine comments, which led to Macklemore's removal from Sheeran's stadium tour. Speaking to a crowd at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday, Sheeran became visibly emotional, at one point sitting cross-legged on stage.

"In these situations you really find out who your friends are. It’s been a weird week," Sheeran told the audience, according to fan-captured video. "It happened very quickly. At the same time, I had so many people telling me to cancel this tour and so many people I’ve known for years and years and years they’re kind of backing away."

Sheeran recounted his internal conflict, stating, "In the back of my mind, I saw the ticket sales for this gig and I didn’t see cancellations, I saw people buying tickets for this gig." He added, "Everyone’s telling me to cancel and I’m feeling all of my friends and family and people I know abandon me."

Despite the personal strain, Sheeran expressed gratitude for his fans, noting, "I look at the end of the week and I see 50,000 people who haven’t abandoned me... Everyone’s telling me to cancel and I’m feeling all of my friends and family and people I know abandon me." He continued, "People will say what they want, but I am doing this for you. I love you. I love this."

The singer described the concert as the best of his life, but called the preceding week one of the most difficult he had experienced. He also admitted to taking additional security measures for the show, including removing a secondary stage that would have placed him closer to the audience. "I apologize that today is not the usual Loop show," he told the crowd. "I took the B stage out because was afraid of what might happen if I stood in the middle. And I will admit that."

Sheeran's cousin, Jethro Sheeran, publicly criticized him on social media, calling him "shady" and a "coward" for his handling of the situation. Jethro also claimed that Ed had previously mistreated him and made light of mental health issues.

Macklemore, who had previously stated that Sheeran was pressured by stadium owners to drop him, announced he would donate $1 million earned from the tour to Palestinian relief efforts. He also urged Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, to match the donation. Kraft subsequently pledged $2 million, stating Sheeran had asked him to do so. Sheeran's upcoming tour dates are scheduled for September 25 and 26 at Gillette Stadium.