The singer says he is ‘not complicit’ and has ‘my personal views on this devastating conflict’
Protests are planned outside Ed Sheeran’s gig tomorrow(Image: Getty Images )
Ed Sheeran has been under intense criticism after Macklemore was dropped from his tour for making comments about Gaza.
The star, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, was dropped from the Sheeran tour line-up after making pro-Palestine comments.
Other support acts have also announced they have dropped out of The Loop tour dates in solidarity.
Sheeran’s own backing band Beoga also announced they were stepping down, writing in a statement on Instagram that they “fully supported” Macklemore’s message.
The controversy has led to planned protests outside Sheeran’s concert in the US on Saturday, which has caused ticket prices to drop to as low as 76 US dollars, around £56.95.
The 35-year-old English singer began his tour in Auckland, New Zealand in January.
It is set to wrap up in Mexico City in December, with a total of 18 shows still scheduled across North and South America.
He is next due to play in Philadelphia on Saturday night, however tickets are now being sold for as low as 76 US dollars (£56.95).
Ahead of that show, local pro-Palestinian groups have also said they will be protesting outside the venue, Lincoln Financial Field.
In a post shared on Instagram, The Philly Palestine Coalition and Shut Down D& shared plans to “take to the streets to return the conversation to Palestine, and return Philadelphia to action”.
The minimum price for tickets to his next show rise to $112 (£83.83) for his concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts on September 25.
Although Sheeran’s two shows in Hollywood, Florida, on October 29 and 30, have the minimum ticket prices currently advertising for 339 US dollars (£254), the price drops again for his final show, in Tampa on November 7.
Tickets for that show are selling for a minimum of 87 US dollars (£65).
For his final show of the tour, in Mexico City, the current prices sit at a minimum of 3,550 pesos, or £154.
Some of the acts who have dropped out of Sheeran’s tour include Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Grammy award-winning musician Finneas, who is Billie Eilish’s brother, and Danish singer Lukas Graham.
On Monday, Macklemore posted on Instagram claiming Sheeran and his team had “made the decision to remove” him from the Loop Tour.
In a response on the social media platform on Tuesday, Sheeran said his departure from the tour was the promoter’s decision and not his.
He said “upcoming tour dates had communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting”, and added Robert Kraft, owner of the Gillette Stadium where he was due to play, was among them.
Sheeran added: “I am not complicit.
“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.
“Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own personal way.”
The Shape Of You singer said he was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine”, and added he respected Macklemore “as an artist”.
The Press Association has contacted representatives for Ed Sheeran for comment.
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