Ed Sheeran addresses Macklemore controversy at Philadelphia show

Ed Sheeran opened his latest performance unsocial onstage and spoke about the controversy that erupted after American rapper Macklemore was dropped from his tour over pro‑Palestinian remarks. "I ne'er wanted to beryllium an activistic instrumentalist but this has enactment maine successful the mediate of an important and passionate statement astir escaped code and the astir analyzable governmental contented connected the planet," he said. Saturday's show at a Philadelphia sports stadium was a stripped‑down affair, with a noticeable number of empty seats when the performance began. Sheeran proceeded without any opening acts, which pushed the start time back after several musicians withdrew from the bill amid the debacle. Ticket prices fell and sales slipped for the remaining U.S. leg of his Loop Tour. He stressed that the decision to drop Macklemore was made by his promoters, not by him. "My concerts person ever been a harmless abstraction for everyone," he said at the commencement of the show, adding that he is committed to fans and that is why he returned to the stage. He besides admitted helium had made "mistakes" during "difficult decisions". Sheeran’s itinerary includes dates across North and South America. Although his previous tour ranked among the highest‑grossing of all time, some tickets for this Philadelphia engagement have been priced at $32 (£24). Fans reported being able to obtain refunds, though Ticketmaster and promoter Messina Touring Group did not confirm that reimbursements were being issued. About an hour or so before doors opened, hundreds of concert‑goers began to arrive for the event. A smattering of press cameras lingered outside the entrance gates, but most fans avoided speaking with the media. A few dozen protesters gathered outside the nearest subway stop, waving flags as ticket holders streamed toward Lincoln Financial Field; the concert proceeded largely without interruption. 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