The snowballing controversy over pro-Palestinian rapper Macklemore being dropped as a support act for Ed Sheeran has plunged the tour into crisis and left concert-goers in the middle of the fraught Israel-Gaza debate. Fans who spoke to the BBC - including those who have tickets to see Sheeran's next show - have been split since Macklemore was dropped from the Loop Tour this week after his "free Palestine" protest on stage. All of Sheeran's opening acts have since quit in solidarity.
"I'm still torn," Damien Given told the BBC on whether he would attend Sheeran's show on Saturday, calling the artist's response disingenuous. Another fan called it a "no-win situation". Since the controversy blew up earlier this week, ticket prices, external for his remaining shows in the US, Mexico and South America have dropped, as calls for boycotts spread.
Sheeran has responded, saying he's been "appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine", but would not be drawn into a political debate. He argued that "those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum" and stressed he was not responsible for Macklemore being removed from the tour. Still, the backlash has come from all sides.
Some are upset Sheeran's tour is continuing without all the listed acts and they want refunds. It's no longer the show they paid for, they said. Given, who is from Northern Ireland, said he's felt in two minds over the tickets he has on Saturday to see the show in Philadelphia.
It will mark Sheeran's first time back on stage since the controversy spiralled. Given said he's felt that Macklemore was treated "very, very wrong" and thought Sheeran was not being transparent with fans. "[Sheeran] said he was in support of Ukraine when the Ukraine-Russia war started," said Given.
"You can't just say now suddenly, 'I'm not political.'" But he explained the poignant connection he's felt to Sheeran's music that has drawn him to Saturday's show. The singer's hit Thinking Out Loud was the first dance at Given's wedding. "When she danced," Given, 52, said, recalling the moment with his bride, "the first words of the song were, 'When your legs don't work like they used to before.'" His wife, Kellie, had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and could barely walk.
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