Ed Sheeran feared audience backlash, altered Philadelphia concert setup

Ed Sheeran revealed he altered the stage setup for his Philadelphia concert on Saturday night, expressing apprehension that the audience might throw objects at him. The singer stated he decided against using a B-stage setup, fearing potential negative reactions from the crowd.

During the concert, Sheeran admitted, "I didn't know what this audience would be like. I didn't know if I would have things thrown at me. I didn't know if people would be angry at me, so today is not the usual Loop show. I took the B stage out because I was afraid of what might happen if I stood in the middle."

Philadelphia Police had previously informed TMZ that they would be implementing "appropriate measures" to ensure safety at the event. The concert proceeded without apparent incident.

Sheeran performed with a new backing band after his previous collaborators, the Irish band Beoga, departed the Loop Tour in solidarity with Macklemore's controversial exit. Sheeran explained that certain songs do not work on a loop pedal, prompting the need for musicians. He enlisted violinist Alicia Enstrom and her musician friends, who learned the songs in a short period. Sheeran expressed gratitude to these musicians for agreeing to perform, knowing the potential repercussions.

The singer also addressed the controversy surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict, admitting to mistakes in how he handled the situation. He called the situation in Gaza "catastrophic and unjustifiable" and the Hamas attacks of October 7 "horrific." Sheeran stated his heart was broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilian lives.

Sheeran confessed he had "found out who his friends are" during the week and that the situation had unfolded rapidly. He told the cheering crowd he was "so grateful" they were there. At the end of the show, he became emotional and apologized for bringing politics into the concert, acknowledging that some attendees might not have expected it.

The Lincoln Financial Field concert was the first time Sheeran had performed since Macklemore, his opening act, was removed from the tour for his vocal support of Palestine. Sheeran had previously stated that his shows are intended for unity and humanity, not politics.

In a statement shared online, Sheeran explained that he had "personal views on this devastating conflict" but had chosen "not to speak publicly." He faced criticism from other artists and even his cousin, Jethro Sheeran, who publicly expressed shame and disappointment.

Other openers, including Finneas (brother of Billie Eilish), Aaron Rowe, and Lukas Graham, along with Beoga, withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Finneas stated, "artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed."

Sheeran reiterated that he did not want to disappoint fans or abandon his touring crew and musicians. He expressed concern about venues pre-approving performance content, stating, "this should never happen in the free world."

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Sheeran's decision to remove Macklemore came after reports that Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, had allegedly threatened to prevent Sheeran from playing in his venues if Macklemore remained on the tour. Sheeran stated in an Instagram post that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the promoter, not by him.

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