Ed Sheeran performed at a New York City charity concert last month, during the intense controversy surrounding Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian remarks.
The singer, 35, made headlines in September when Macklemore was removed from the support lineup for Sheeran’s Loop tour. The decision followed comments the rapper made about Palestine while performing at Sheeran’s New Jersey shows.
Following Macklemore’s departure, Sheeran’s other opening acts—including Finneas, Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe—said they would also leave the tour in solidarity with the rapper and Palestine. His backing band, Beoga, announced the same decision.
Amid the fallout, the philanthropic pop star appeared at a charity event held in New York for the Lentonbrook Foundation, established in honour of Ipswich Town chairman and CEO Mark Ashton. The evening was hosted by former Ipswich Town captain Matt Holland.
The Lentonbrook Foundation funds charities and community groups supporting disadvantaged children and young people across Suffolk.
Reflecting on the fundraiser, Mark said: ‘Raising $1 million in one evening is an incredible achievement, and I’m hugely grateful to Ed, our guests and everyone who helped make it happen.
Ed Sheeran performed at a New York charity event last month as controversy continued over Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian comments
‘Although the event was held in New York, Suffolk was at the heart of it. We’re incredibly proud to be bringing significant new funding into the county, with every dollar dedicated to helping children and young people in our communities.
‘There are so many brilliant local organisations doing vital work, and this generosity will help them reach more young people, create new opportunities and make a lasting difference.’
Just before the Lentonbrook fundraiser, Sheeran faced further criticism after addressing Macklemore’s removal during a performance at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field. Critics accused the singer of “bowing to the mob” after he apologised to fans.
Speaking to around 50,000 concertgoers, Sheeran said: ‘The last week of my life has been one of the worst weeks of my life.’
He said the support from those who attended had helped him through the turmoil, adding: ‘Today has been one of the weirdest days of my life. Tonight has been honestly the best show of my life, the best show.’
Sheeran, 35, drew attention in September after Macklemore was dropped from the Loop tour following pro-Palestinian comments made during shows in New Jersey
‘I really didn’t know whether 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, and it’s been a weird week.’
Sheeran was accused of “bowing to the mob” after opening the Philadelphia concert with an apology delivered from an autocue.
The remarks appeared to depart from his previous promise to keep politics out of his shows. Sheeran described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable” while also calling Hamas’s October 7 attacks “horrific.”
Broadcaster Piers Morgan wrote: ‘I agree with Ed Sheeran’s overview of the Israel/Hamas war (Oct 7 terrible, Israel response disproportionate) but I wish he hadn’t bowed to the mob and felt forced to say it publicly…
‘Especially reading it off an autocue like some bullied puppet. He needs better advisors.’
Others echoed Morgan’s criticism, with one supporter writing: ‘His PR people need to be fired. No reason for him to have to speak to that outside of a very small mob of loudmouths.’
Mark Ashton praised Sheeran and the event’s guests after the Lentonbrook Foundation fundraiser raised $1 million in a single evening
‘This dude simply wants to play and perform and has done so for years. He’s a bigger idiot than he was last week. What a disgrace to bow to the mob.’
Another X poster said that Ed’s use of a teleprompter ‘is not proof he doesn’t care’.
‘Ed is a singer. Not a politician. Not a news anchor. He does not spend his life rehearsing talking points on the most loaded conflict on the planet,’ the comment continued.
‘Asking him to speak off-the-cuff about Israel and Gaza in front of 50,000 people after a week that blew up his tour is not the same as asking him to sing “Castle on the Hill”. Using a teleprompter here is not proof he doesn’t care. It’s proof he was scared of getting the words wrong on something this radioactive. There is a difference.’
‘He just needs to be strong and say “No I’m not getting bullied and dragged in by any side”. He can walk away from this all and still have his music,’ agreed another.
‘To be fair, he was never going to “win” this regardless. What is shameful is that his “guest” on tour and band threw him under the bus,’ said one more.
On stage, Sheeran said he had been convinced to continue with his tour after he saw an uptick in ticket sales, telling the crowd: ‘Everyone’s telling me to cancel and I’m feeling all of my friends and family and people I know abandon me – and I look at the end of the week, and I see 50,000 people who haven’t abandoned me.’
