Ed Sheeran admits to making huge security move after being 'afraid' following 'Free Palestine'
Ed Sheeran has admitted he was 'afraid' before his concert in Philadelphia last night (September 19) as he raised concerns about the audience 'throwing' things at him.
The British superstar made a huge security move prior to his solo show in Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field yesterday, following controversy surrounding the removal of tour opener Macklemore, which saw the other supporting acts pull out in solidarity.
The US rapper was dropped from upcoming gigs on Sheeran's Loop Tour, after making pro-Palestinian speeches on stage in which he called for a 'Free Palestine', during a September 4 performance.
The 'Thinking Out Loud' singer subsequently released a statement noting that he has 'personal views on the conflict', but that he chooses not to speak about them publicly.
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But during his Saturday night show, which went ahead without any support acts, Sheeran addressed the controversy head-on, speaking for four minutes as he read from a teleprompter.
"I've had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so, so sorry," he said, before explaining the security call he made prior to the performance.
The singer made the decision to remove the B-stage for safety reasons, that would normally see him perform in the middle of the crowd.
"I didn't know what this audience would be like. I didn't know if I would have things thrown at me," he said.
The star added: "I was afraid of what might happen if I stood in the middle. And I will admit that."
Further explaining his stance, Sheeran continued: "I don’t want to disappoint fans, and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet."
During his lengthy speech prior to the show, Sheeran noted that he is 'appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine', and further described it as a 'human tragedy'.
The star even admitted he had questioned whether he wanted to continue his career as an artist, saying: "I really didn’t know if this tour would be carrying on.
"I really didn’t know whether I’d even be 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."
The singer has lost more than 100,000 followers following the controversy.
Topics: Ed Sheeran, Music, Politics, US News, Celebrity
Mia Williams