Ed Sheeran says he contemplated quitting as an artist at first concert since Macklemore crisis engulfed tour

Showbiz Ed Sheeran says he contemplated quitting as an artist at first concert since Macklemore crisis engulfed tour Ed Sheeran admits he has made ‘mistakes’ as he returns to stage in Philadelphia after rapper was dropped from the tour for making pro-Palestinian remarks Allow Exco Player content This content is provided . Please click 'Allow and Continue' below to load the content. Allow and Continue Matt Watts, News Editor1 minute ago Ed Sheeran revealed he questioned whether he “wanted to be an artist at all” as the controversy over Macklemore’s removal engulfed his tour in crisis. Support acts and the backing band for the star’s current The Loop tour dropped out of the remaining dates after the US rapper was removed from the line-up following comments about the conflict in Gaza. Performing for the first time since the incident unfolded, Sheeran told the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia: “I really didn’t know whether this tour would be carrying on. “I really didn’t know whether I’d be even getting on stage again, whether I even wanted to be an artist at all. “In these situations, you really find out who your friends are, and it’s been a weird week. I just feel like it happened very quickly.” He opened the show admitting he had made “mistakes” and condemning the conflict in Gaza as “catastrophic” and “unjustifiable”. Ed Sheeran addressed the recent controversy that has engulfed his tour as he returned to the stage Instagram / Ed Sheeran The English singer said he had tried in the past not to be a “political commentator” because he wanted his shows to be about “unity”. “I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore,” he said. “What happened in Israel and at the Nova music festival on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. “What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate. My heart has been broken ’ lives, children’s lives. “And the systemic injustice we are seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.” Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested before the Ed Sheeran concert in Philadelphia Sheeran concluded the concert by saying: “The world is a scary place right now. America is a scary place right now. This gives hope.” Ahead of the show, attendees said they were sticking . James Webber IV from Scranton, Pennsylvania said: “I stand with Ed. All politics aside, we just like the music.