Ed Sheeran said at his concert Saturday that the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel were “horrific” but that the plight of civilians in Gaza is “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.”
asserted
plight → say → Gaza
He expressed his feelings while addressing the crowd during the opening of his one-man concert at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, the first since since artist Macklemore was controversially removed from Sheeran’s “Loop” tour over his pro-Palestinian advocacy.
asserted
Macklemore → express → advocacy
“This is a humanitarian issue and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore,” Sheeran said.
asserted
Sheeran → hide → it
The comments followed a week of turmoil for the artist, including protests outside the venue ahead of Saturday’s show.
asserted
comments → follow → show
Macklemore, who had originally been scheduled to open the show, said he was dropped after he made pro-Palestinian remarks during the opening of Sheeran’s tour at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this week.
asserted
he → schedule → Jersey
He alleged New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft, a staunch supporter of Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, organized a stadium boycott that forced him off the tour.
asserted
that → allege → tour
Sheeran said the week brought him difficult decisions, some of which ended in mistakes.
asserted
some → say → mistakes
“I am so, so sorry,” he said.
asserted
he → say → ?
“I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician,” Sheeran said, “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.”
asserted
this → want → planet
He expressed worry about the idea that venues could “pre-approve content” for artists but said he would continue to perform on his current tour dates because honoring his commitment to fans is paramount.
uncertain
honoring → express → fans
The controversy over Macklemore’s stance fired up demonstrators who support the plight of people in the Gaza Strip amid warfare between Israel and Hamas militants.
asserted
who → fire → Israel
Ahead of the concert Saturday, dozens of people gathered at Pattinson Avenue and Broad Street, just outside the stadium, to participate in a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
asserted
dozens → gather → demonstration
Demonstrators, many covering their faces, shouted “Free, free Palestine” in unison as motorists honked their horns in support.
asserted
motorists → cover → support
Robert Boucher, 73, a retired surgeon, said he was there to take a stand for freedom of speech.
asserted
he → say → speech
“The action that’s been taken by the stadium owners and folks who oppose Macklemore and what he represents and the comments that he’s made, that’s really an unjustifiable attempt to squelch free speech,” Boucher said.
asserted
Boucher → take → speech
The Philadelphia resident asserted that his criticism is of the Israeli government and its treatment of civilians in Gaza, not a stance against Jewish people.
asserted
criticism → assert → people
“We’re here to specifically support our right to say the things that we’re saying and to not be labeled as antisemites or anti-Israel,” he said.
asserted
he → ’re → antisemites
Gwen Myrick, 51, of West Philadelphia, said she supports Macklemore’s stand.
asserted
she → say → stand
“I am here in support of Macklemore,” she said.
asserted
she → say → Macklemore
“Because that is how a movement is born — standing up for the people who are brave enough to stand up.”
asserted
who → bear → people
The protest followed a weeklong controversy that began after Macklemore voiced support for Palestinians.
asserted
Macklemore → follow → Palestinians
He accused Kraft of organizing a boycott among stadium owners in response, an allegation Kraft did not deny.
asserted
Kraft → accuse → allegation
In a statement, Kraft said the decision was not intended to stifle Palestinian advocacy or diminish Palestinian suffering but to ensure a “welcoming environment” at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, which he owns.
asserted
he → say → which
Macklemore had been scheduled to open two “Loop” tour dates there later this month.
asserted
Macklemore → schedule → dates
The rapper had also been scheduled to open Saturday’s show in Philadelphia.
asserted
rapper → schedule → Philadelphia
Instead, the protesters outside Lincoln Financial Field repeated some of the same pro-Palestinian remarks that Macklemore said led to his removal.
asserted
Macklemore → repeat → removal
Adi Chattopadhyay, who said he helped organize the demonstration, said Sheeran could halt criticism by donating money to Palestinian-related causes.
uncertain
Sheeran → say → causes
“Send that money to families in Gaza,” he said.
asserted
he → send → Gaza
“Will he support the innocent people of Gaza who have been bombarded?
asserted
who → support → Gaza
Will he actually do something?”
asserted
he → do → something
Macklemore has pledged to donate $1 million, which he said represented all of the net earnings from Sheeran’s tour, to six organizations supporting Palestinians.
asserted
he → pledge → Palestinians
Kraft later pledged $2 million toward causes supporting people impacted by the war in Gaza to match a similar donation made by Sheeran.
asserted
Kraft → pledge → Sheeran
On Saturday, Sheeran said he’s spoken to “people across the spectrum to work out how to make a contribution that helps victims of these terrible times.”
asserted
that → say → times
The controversy prompted other artists to leave the tour.
asserted
controversy → prompt → tour
Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Finneas — who were scheduled to open various dates during the remainder of the “Loop” tour — withdrew in protest of Macklemore’s removal.
asserted
who → schedule → removal
Beoga, Sheeran’s house band, also left the tour.
asserted
Beoga → leave → tour
The artists had previously been listed as supporting performers on Sheeran’s tour website, but their names were removed from the page Thursday.
asserted
names → list → page
Fans attending Saturday’s concert were notified Friday that the show would begin at 8 p.m., rather than 5:30 p.m., as originally scheduled.
asserted
show → attend → p.m.
Friends Karen Mossop, 59, and Karen Macort, 62, said they were there to experience only one artist — Sheeran.
asserted
they → say → artist
Mossop defended the artist and said he just “got caught up in a really negative campaign.”
“Because he’s a really nice guy, he didn’t realize the ramifications of what would happen,” Mossop said.
asserted
Mossop → defend → ramifications
…and 27 more, not listed.
The Aporia
