Ed Sheeran Pulls B-Stage From Comeback Show, Says He Was 'Afraid' of Standing in the Crowd

Ed Sheeran returned to the stage in Philadelphia on September 19 for the first time since his Loop tour was rocked by controversy, and the show looked different. The B-stage, the setup where he performs surrounded by fans in the middle of the venue, was removed. Sheeran told the crowd he was“afraid of what might happen if I stood in the middle.”It came after a brutal week in which Macklemore was dropped as a support act over a pro-Palestine speech at MetLife Stadium, prompting all remaining support acts and Sheeran’s backing band to withdraw from the tour.

Rather than avoid the elephant in the room, Sheeran addressed it directly. He told fans he had made mistakes, admitted he questioned whether he wanted to continue as an artist, and said he could no longer hide how he feels about Gaza.“This is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore,”he said. For an artist whose career is built on being universally liked, it was a rare and raw moment.

The fallout is still unfolding, and fans are split. Some see a musician taking an honest stand at real personal cost. Others see a tour that’s become more about politics than music. Either way, the Loop tour is now the most debated tour in pop. So tell us: does an artist taking a political stand at a concert change whether you’d buy a ticket? Drop your take in the comments.