British singer Ed Sheeran opened his latest concert alone onstage and spoke for the first time about the controversy that erupted over American rapper Macklemore being dropped from his tour over pro-Palestinian remarks.
“I never wanted to be an activist musician but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about free speech and the most complex political issue on the planet,” he said.
Saturday’s show at a Philadelphia sports stadium was a stripped down event and there were a number of empty seats in the venue when the concert began.
Sheeran went on without opening acts, causing the show’s start time to be pushed back, after several musicians dropped out over the debacle.
The price for tickets dropped and sales declined for the remaining US leg of his Loop Tour.
The singer has said the decision to drop Macklemore was made by his promoters, not him.
“My concerts have always been a safe space for everyone,” he said at the start of the show, adding that he is committed to fans and that is why he returned to the stage.
He also admitted he had made “mistakes” during “difficult decisions”.
Sheeran’s tour dates are scheduled with shows set throughout North and South America. While the mega-star’s previous tour was among the highest-grossing of all time, some ticket prices for this show have dropped to $32 (£24).
Fans also reported being able to get ticket refunds, though Ticketmaster and concert promoter Messina Touring Group did not confirm they were being reimbursed.
An hour or so before the show began, hundreds concert-goers began to stream in for the event.
There was a smattering of press cameras outside the entry gates, though most fans skipped talking to the press.
Protestors, a few dozen, turned up outside the nearest tube stop waving flags as ticket holders streamed towards Lincoln Financial Field – but the concert proceeded largely unfettered.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X, external to get the latest alerts.
