Sept. 20, 2026
All By Himself: Ed Sheeran Gets Emotional, Tells Audience “I Am Making Mistakes”
Apple Podcasts 
Spotify 
Castro 
RSS Feed Ed Sheeran performed his first concert since Macklemore was dropped from his opening act for his “Free Palestine” statements two weekends ago. The remainder of Sheeran’s openers all left the tour in solidarity with Macklemore, and so Sheeran stood on the stage at Lincoln Financial in Philly and tearfully told fans he was “so, so sorry.” We play his three minute apology and explanation for what happened and share our thoughts on seeing and hearing Sheeran read his prepared statements, carefully trying to NOT piss anyone else off in the process.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
00:00:10
Speaker 1: Hey there, folks. It is Sunday, September 20th, and Ed Sheeran got back on stage last night for the first time since Macklemore got kicked off the concert tour. He had a lot to say before he started playing his guitar. Among the things he had to say, I'm sorry, I made mistakes. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. We will let you know. We will let you hear everything that he said last night. But Robes, the show apparently must go on. Your impression. We're going to play it for everybody. What's your first impression of it?
00:00:44
Speaker 2: Look, this is a guy who has had a really tough week or past two weeks, I guess. And, yeah, my impression was I felt bad for him. He got emotional on stage. He openly wept on stage. But I still think he's trying to have it both ways. And he gets to try and... and straddle that massive chasm. But, and I do think a lot of his fans are there for his music, but it's like he's saying, here's kind of what I think, but I didn't do anything about it because for me, it's just about the music. He's still trying to say something a little more without really doing anything to back it up.
00:01:21
Speaker 1: Without taking a side. Is that fair? Is that what everybody is trying to do oftentimes in this is trying to make sure you're not on the side of these people or those people. And just, I feel bad for everybody. And that's the, And I think he has been, has he not, Rose, been kind of pushed or forced into a position where he needs to take a position.
00:01:39
Speaker 2: Yes, because sometimes, and he keeps inching a little closer towards giving his opinion, but when you don't back it up with action, it's almost worse. Like, I'd rather him say, I really don't have an opinion.
00:01:54
Speaker 3: I haven't researched it.
00:01:56
Speaker 2: It's not something I feel passionate about, and so I'm not willing to put my foot or step into those muddy waters. But he's saying, I have an opinion and he's giving us like little pieces of it. But then when pushed and forced to take action on the opinion, whether it's on free speech or on what's happening in Gaza, he chose to, he says, protect the fans, protect the tour, protect the people working.
00:02:20
Speaker 3: All of that.
00:02:21
Speaker 2: And I understand it, but it just, it feels like he just wants it to go away.
00:02:28
Speaker 1: Um, I, To a certain degree, that makes sense. This wasn't of his doing. He didn't say anything on stage at MetLife. Robes, that was his opening act. Somebody he supported, and they say they've been friends for a long, long time. I think, for whatever reason, what's the young lady's name? Barrera, that was in Scream, that they dumped, because she said, free Palestine.
00:02:49
Speaker 2: Oh, right.
00:02:50
Speaker 3: I can't remember her name, but I can look it up. Yes, I think you're correct.
00:02:53
Speaker 1: She's made some comments here lately. She's like, wow, I'm glad Macklemore's getting support. I didn't. I didn't get that love ropes. I'm surprised. And I think it had to do with his opening acts. I think that might have been the thing that really did Ed Sheeran in. But when Macklemore, who, yes, is a four time Grammy winner, but his hottest time, he used to be a headliner.
00:03:17
Speaker 3: Yes, absolutely.
00:03:18
Speaker 1: OK, so for him to go out there and make these comments. And now he is getting a groundswell of support. I was not expecting that.
00:03:28
Speaker 3: Neither was I. I was not either. And you are right. It is Melissa Barrera.
00:03:31
Speaker 2: She was fired from Scream 7 in November of 2023 after she put up some social media posts that supported Palestine and criticized Israel's actions in Gaza. Yes.
00:03:44
Speaker 3: So she was literally fired.
00:03:47
Speaker 1: I mean, what do you do? That means you cannot speak. We will not allow you artists to speak if it is not in line with something I, who is in charge, feels. This is pretty remarkable stuff we're having. I mean, yes, you have the right to say who's going to be in your venue. You have the right to say who's going to be in your movie. Okay, I get it. But man, there was something, Robes, about silencing someone. that really set people off.
00:04:15
Speaker 3: And yes, this is.
00:04:15
Speaker 2: Kind of about this, and I am not calling Israel or anyone who supports Israel a bully, but there have been bullying tactics used, and that is part of the complaints and criticisms surrounding Israel especially what happened with the Sheeran tour and Macklemore being removed. And I think it takes certain artists, like perhaps these folks who come from Ireland and the other who came from Denmark, who were raised with very different beliefs and strongly held beliefs that they are willing to fight for and lose money for.
00:04:51
Speaker 3: And lose opportunities for.
00:04:53
Speaker 2: And it takes a special kind of artist to be able to stand that ground. Because look, a lot of supporters of Israel, a lot of Jewish powerful folks are in the entertainment industry. And they're not just in the entertainment industry, they are in charge of the entertainment industry. So if you go against Israel and you speak out in any way that seems to be against the Jewish people, yes, you have powerful Jewish folks running a lot of these movie houses and production companies and recording artists, the entire entertainment industry oftentimes has a lot of very powerful people in charge who are associated with Israel.
00:05:33
Speaker 1: And that is something that's a part of the conversation that is out there in culture. And I think, Robes, this was a perfect storm. With the backdrop you just described, you happen to have Irish artists who were some of his headliners. Now you throw into it robes that we're not talking about a movie star said something. We're talking about a musician, an artist. They take that shit seriously.
00:05:58
Speaker 4: Yes.
00:05:59
Speaker 2: It's the lifeblood of many, many songs we've loved for decades.
00:06:04
Speaker 3: It is that passion.
00:06:05
Speaker 2: It is that stand up against the man mantra that so many recording artists take on from rap to music. I mean, it spans all genres, folk music, whatever. All artists cling to this as part of their, this is their outlet.
00:06:24
Speaker 3: This is their poetry. This is their duty.
00:06:27
Speaker 1: They actually do have brought change in the world based on a song being written.
00:06:32
Speaker 3: That's true.
00:06:33
Speaker 1: This is what they do, and you're going to tell this important issue. He spoke, and you said you're not allowed to speak anymore.
00:06:41
Speaker 3: Because it's not a political rally.
00:06:43
Speaker 2: What?
00:06:45
Speaker 1: This is a really incredible story. And I'm sure Michelle Barrera is like, what the hell? Where was my support? I lost jobs.
00:06:52
Speaker 5: And you're right.
00:06:52
Speaker 2: Maybe it is the difference between a movie actress and a musical artist.
00:06:57
Speaker 1: When the musical acts, when they dropped out, I could not believe. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Some of them had short and sweet statements. Like, we don't even need to explain ourselves.
00:07:06
Speaker 2: I bet Macklemore was shocked. I bet he was not expecting that. But probably it was a very welcome surprise.
00:07:13
Speaker 1: So when was the last, babe? That was September 4th and 5th?
00:07:16
Speaker 2: Yes.
00:07:16
Speaker 1: For those concerts.
00:07:17
Speaker 2: Correct.
00:07:17
Speaker 1: And then the next concerts after that, after MetLife and all this controversy started, Macklemore was kicked off after those shows. The next one wasn't until last night, Robes, last night at Lincoln Field in Philadelphia. Now, a lot of back and forth and things have happened and statements have come out in the meantime, but this was the first time we were going to see him back on stage. No opening acts, just him and a guitar. up there. But Robes, I will tell you, I was surprised that he chose to start. Like, he didn't play a song. He walked out there, picked up the microphone, and started talking. I was surprised that He just wanted to get it out of the way and let's move on and let's just have a good time now. I think so.
00:07:54
Speaker 2: It was probably weighing very heavily. And you saw, and you will hear in just a moment, the emotion in his voice. I think he needed to get it out to be able to perform. With that hanging over his head, he wouldn't have been able to do what he needed to do.
00:08:07
Speaker 1: I've got to get halfway through him. I have to make this speed. You know when you have.
00:08:10
Speaker 2: An important conversation, you have to have somebody you've got to get it over with first before you go on.
00:08:14
Speaker 3: You've just got to get it out.
00:08:16
Speaker 1: Here he was last night, Lincoln... Lincoln Field in Philadelphia. This is Ed Sheeran at the top of his show before he even played a single song.
00:08:26
Speaker 5: Before I play some songs tonight, I hope it's okay if I say a few words about this last week. I'm used to my music being criticized, and I'm always happy to take that because I'm lucky a lot of you like my stuff. I'm not surprised that other people don't.
00:08:44
Speaker 1: You know, it's normal. But this week, the criticism.
00:08:47
Speaker 5: Was about something much more important, and I've had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I'm so, so sorry. 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. My concerts have always been a safe space for everyone and that matters hugely to me. Honouring my commitment to my fans is also completely central to who I am and that is why I'm here tonight on my own and continuing my current tour. But I am deeply worried about the idea that venues should pre-approve content of performers. This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.
00:09:51
Speaker 1: All right, Rose, let me ask, what do you think of what you're hearing so far? Look, he.
00:10:00
Speaker 3: he's trying.
00:10:04
Speaker 2: To explain how he feels without going too far.
00:10:10
Speaker 3: I mean, what did you take away from that?
00:10:13
Speaker 1: This is what I take away, and you all are hearing it. You're not able to see it, and I think it is very important to see it. because he's standing there and he's looking down at a teleprompter as he's delivering this.
00:10:25
Speaker 3: And that takes away from what he's saying.
00:10:28
Speaker 1: It, and it shouldn't. I know these things have to be carefully written and he wanted to get it right. And that maybe that's it. I mean, he's not, I don't know how well, no, we went to his concert. He, Speaks off the fly from the heart all the time.
00:10:38
Speaker 3: He spoke more than we were expecting.
00:10:40
Speaker 1: Yes.
00:10:41
Speaker 2: We were like, just could you sing a little more and talk a little less?
00:10:45
Speaker 3: But yes, there is.
00:10:46
Speaker 1: We say that jokingly.
00:10:47
Speaker 3: We do.
00:10:47
Speaker 1: He made a joke about it. Yes.
00:10:49
Speaker 3: He was like, I sometimes I just keep talking and talking. We're like, yes, dude.
00:10:53
Speaker 1: He said his manager. Gets on to him, tells him he talks too much.
00:10:57
Speaker 3: Exhibit A.
00:10:57
Speaker 1: He said that early in the concert. I'm like, oh, he's just like, damn.
00:11:00
Speaker 3: You really kind of do. You said maybe he should listen to his manager more.
00:11:04
Speaker 2: But no, it is true, babe. When you watch him reading it, you know what? It doesn't even make me think less of him. It makes me feel like he's almost, I don't want to say being held hostage, but you can almost see this gun to his head. Like if you say the wrong thing, your entire concert is now going to go down the drain.
00:11:21
Speaker 3: And it made me feel sad for him.
00:11:24
Speaker 1: Because he looked like somebody who was doing something he had to do versus wanted to do. And authenticity, Robes, when it comes to this particular issue, there's like, where's your pain? Where's your passion? Yes, he got upset and bothered at the end. And we're going to let you hear that as well. But do you remember Robes? What was he emotional for? Was he crying on behalf of someone, on behalf of himself? Now, that is not a criticism. I'm saying I'm giving some optics in how this could be interpreted Because he is standing there, Robes, and to see someone reading from a script, something this important and passionate, it comes off a certain way. That's not a criticism. I'm saying I understand. You want to get every word right. But when you see it, Robes, after all that's happened the past week. It looked like a guy up there being forced to read a statement.
00:12:13
Speaker 3: Yeah, he felt.
00:12:14
Speaker 2: To me, it looked like he felt extremely vulnerable. He was extremely fearful. And when you do anything out of fear, it comes off that way. And you can't escape it. And him reading it, this guy... If he just came out... and took the stage and walked with the mic and was like, this has been a hell of a week, and he spoke with passion, and he spoke from his heart, and he spoke with conviction, it would have been far different. But he might have said the wrong thing. He might have pissed off another stadium owner. He might have pissed off certain fans in the audience. And so instead, you see him almost shaking in his boots, carefully reading something so as to continue not to offend, but to still try and impart some sort of connection to to the issue. It was tough because I saw somebody who wasn't free to be himself, free to say what he wanted to say. And that's the whole point of what got Macklemore, like the whole frustration and the whole, a lot of the anger.
00:13:09
Speaker 3: Yes, it's about Gaza, but it's also just about free speech.
00:13:12
Speaker 2: And the fact that yes, your entire opening act, including your house band left you alone and you're standing on this stage and you're trying to explain it.
00:13:24
Speaker 1: Oh, now, see, this happens every single episode. You finally hit the thing, and I go, ah, now I get it. That, Robes, is why I think I might be having such a hard time because we saw him in concert with his house band. They only do about five or so songs with him, so they're up there 20, 30 minutes tops of a three-hour show. But he spoke about them so passionately. their time that they've been together, times they've written songs together. He gave us at least five times. He said, they're going to be doing a show, so-and-so, and you need to go check them out.
00:13:58
Speaker 3: He was proud of them.
00:13:59
Speaker 1: He was proud. He didn't mention the pain of losing that band.
00:14:02
Speaker 3: And he should have.
00:14:03
Speaker 1: He didn't mention Macklemore.
00:14:05
Speaker 3: And he should have.
00:14:06
Speaker 2: And that's my issue because that's why I think he got emotional. He feels betrayed, and he also feels like he's being accused of betraying. So it's just he feels probably attacked.
00:14:17
Speaker 5: On a very.
00:14:18
Speaker 2: cellular level. Like, you didn't stand up for your team. You didn't stand up for your people. You didn't stand up for your opening acts. And they all left.
00:14:30
Speaker 1: And all of the ropes, they are Irish and they're artists. He is Irish... An artist. Why is there a disconnect between what they feel like is the right thing and what you feel like is the right thing?
00:14:46
Speaker 3: Because he has more to lose.
00:14:47
Speaker 1: There it is, baby. And that, I don't, I am not criticizing him. I'm understanding why we're putting some of this together. Why, yes, that whole package looks like something that's quite. Criticizable.
00:15:01
Speaker 3: Inauthentic.
00:15:02
Speaker 2: Yes. Yes.
00:15:03
Speaker 4: All right.
00:15:03
Speaker 1: Well, stay here, folks. We're going to let you hear the rest. What he had to say, it only went about three minutes, but he did at the very top of the show. We'll let you hear the rest of it and give you our full reaction.
00:15:13
Speaker 4: All right, we continue here on Amy and TJ want to pick up where Ed Sheeran left off.
00:15:26
Speaker 1: It was about a minute and a half in his comments. First comment since. And for his concert, since Macklemore got kicked off the tour, here he is picking it back up, talking to the audience at the very top of his show last night.
00:15:39
Speaker 5: Now, I want to address the question of where I stand in the situation in Israel and Palestine and whether my doing this concert here tonight implies where I stand. I have tried in my career not to be a political commentator of any kind because I want my music and shows to be about unity, not division. about humanity, not politics. But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore. What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on October 7th was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate. My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians' lives, of children's lives. And the systemic injustice we're seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked. I honestly am so grateful that you're here tonight with me. This concert is still a place where everyone is welcome, and everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing views, and everyone here can stand by people that they don't agree with on everything, but they can all agree on singing these songs.
00:17:08
Speaker 1: And that was it. And singing these songs. I didn't like how it ended either. But, Ropes, he said, I cannot longer stand by and not talk about where I stand. Where does he stand, based on what you just heard?
00:17:20
Speaker 3: That he understands both sides.
00:17:22
Speaker 1: Okay, and that's the thing, babe. You don't have to take a stand. We always think a stand has to be on this side or that side. Your stand can just be on the side of everybody working this out and being safe and free and not dying. We've turned this conversation always into a thing where somebody has to take a stand. He led with that. I can no longer not That was a little weird.
00:17:51
Speaker 3: And he didn't say anything.
00:17:52
Speaker 2: You were expecting him to actually, yes, make a choice in terms of, not that I would expect him to have said free Palestine, but I did expect more. Now, he did use the words in terms of what's happening to the Palestinian people as unjustified and disproportionate.
00:18:11
Speaker 3: Them are fighting words for some folks.
00:18:12
Speaker 1: Systemic injustice that we're seeing. He did use about three to five words that puts him... In the arena. But he didn't lead with them, and they were kind of tucked in there.
00:18:26
Speaker 3: But he said them.
00:18:27
Speaker 1: It will require some interpretation and some understanding and some closer listening. But as carefully worded as this thing was, those words were in there for a reason.
00:18:37
Speaker 3: Correct.
00:18:38
Speaker 2: He had to choose them carefully. But as you point out, he started off the sentence by acknowledging what happened on October 7th. what reignited the now current humanitarian crisis that we're seeing. And that was, of course, he didn't mention Hamas, but he did mention the festival, the music festival, where it began the current conflict we're in now.
00:19:03
Speaker 1: Yes, that was a Hamas action. And that's what folks took issue with Macklemore. Now, if he would have started his like that?
00:19:09
Speaker 3: That's what I'm curious.
00:19:10
Speaker 2: If he had acknowledged that, if he had just said what Sheeran had just said, saying, Yes, it began. It was a horrible thing that happened. But free Palestine. I do think they would have had a harder time saying, you can't say that. I think that would have maybe given him a little cushioning to continue.
00:19:32
Speaker 3: They might have issued a warning.
00:19:34
Speaker 1: Issued a warning.
00:19:36
Speaker 3: I mean, he might have gotten a yellow card.
00:19:38
Speaker 1: Or some suggested language. For the next concert.
00:19:41
Speaker 3: Correct. Which he would not have taken.
00:19:43
Speaker 1: Is this over yet? There hasn't been necessarily a whole lot of reaction. This was just last night. This was late last night in Philadelphia. So I don't know how this is going to be received. But he said what he had to say. He said it at the top. The show goes on. I think that is a headline roped. He did make clear the tour is going to go on.
00:20:00
Speaker 3: Correct.
00:20:01
Speaker 2: And look, we've heard and seen some headlines about slow ticket sales.
00:20:05
Speaker 3: That remains to be seen.
00:20:06
Speaker 2: But I did read the Wall Street Journal had an article about some of the fans who they were tailgating around the arena. And obviously, if they are there, they're supporting Sheeran. So everyone was there supporting him, saying politics matters. They are not here for the politics. They're here for the music. It wasn't much, yes. So it seems like, look, the people who showed up were the people who were there for Ed Sheeran. A couple people said, yeah, it would have been nice to have seen some of the opening acts, but I bought the tickets for Ed Sheeran, so it's all about Ed Sheeran. And most people seemed to show tremendous support for him. And you could hear it in the cheering. If you came out to see the concert, you were there to support him.
00:20:44
Speaker 1: You know, would it hurt the tour? Or help the tour if Macklemore at this point was still on it.
00:20:51
Speaker 3: Oh, he would help. Are you kidding me?
00:20:52
Speaker 1: I wonder.
00:20:53
Speaker 3: Without a doubt.
00:20:53
Speaker 1: Right? It's weird that we're talking about he is a leading voice. Macklemore. Popping tags. I'm going to pop something. Yeah, that guy.
00:21:02
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:21:04
Speaker 1: Only got $ 20 in my pocket. Yes, that guy is leading a conversation about Palestine.
00:21:10
Speaker 3: It's wild.
00:21:11
Speaker 1: Artists, right?
00:21:12
Speaker 3: Yes.
00:21:13
Speaker 1: Remember that. Artists. They have us all talking about this, babe. That is a big deal. Give them credit. Here they go once again.
00:21:19
Speaker 2: And millions of dollars headed to help and the aid of the Palestinian people started by Macklemore but continued by many others.
00:21:26
Speaker 3: Ed Sheeran himself also donating two million.
00:21:30
Speaker 2: Miss Rachel also donating a million dollars as well encouraging others to do so.
00:21:35
Speaker 1: Others.
00:21:36
Speaker 3: Others.
00:21:36
Speaker 1: That's a very specific group she was asking to donate money.
00:21:38
Speaker 2: She wanted rich white celebrities to pull out their wallets and also match that million dollars.
00:21:45
Speaker 3: Still not sure if Robert Kraft did but He was challenged. He acknowledged that.
00:21:49
Speaker 1: He acknowledged that he was challenged.
00:21:52
Speaker 2: But he didn't specify whether or not he followed through on said challenge.
00:21:56
Speaker 1: Isn't that crazy? Robert Graff has $ 2 million. His sofa cushion, like, just loose change.
00:22:00
Speaker 2: Right?
00:22:00
Speaker 3: Like, it's so funny.
00:22:01
Speaker 1: All right, folks, just wanted to give you that update. What more to come? We don't know, but when it happens, we'll be all over it. We appreciate you, as always, spending a little time with us. This is my dear Amy Robach. I am TJ Holmes. We will talk to you soon.
Speaker 1: Hey there, folks. It is Sunday, September 20th, and Ed Sheeran got back on stage last night for the first time since Macklemore got kicked off the concert tour. He had a lot to say before he started playing his guitar. Among the things he had to say, I'm sorry, I made mistakes. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. We will let you know. We will let you hear everything that he said last night. But Robes, the show apparently must go on. Your impression. We're going to play it for everybody. What's your first impression of it?
00:00:44
Speaker 2: Look, this is a guy who has had a really tough week or past two weeks, I guess. And, yeah, my impression was I felt bad for him. He got emotional on stage. He openly wept on stage. But I still think he's trying to have it both ways. And he gets to try and... and straddle that massive chasm. But, and I do think a lot of his fans are there for his music, but it's like he's saying, here's kind of what I think, but I didn't do anything about it because for me, it's just about the music. He's still trying to say something a little more without really doing anything to back it up.
00:01:21
Speaker 1: Without taking a side. Is that fair? Is that what everybody is trying to do oftentimes in this is trying to make sure you're not on the side of these people or those people. And just, I feel bad for everybody. And that's the, And I think he has been, has he not, Rose, been kind of pushed or forced into a position where he needs to take a position.
00:01:39
Speaker 2: Yes, because sometimes, and he keeps inching a little closer towards giving his opinion, but when you don't back it up with action, it's almost worse. Like, I'd rather him say, I really don't have an opinion.
00:01:54
Speaker 3: I haven't researched it.
00:01:56
Speaker 2: It's not something I feel passionate about, and so I'm not willing to put my foot or step into those muddy waters. But he's saying, I have an opinion and he's giving us like little pieces of it. But then when pushed and forced to take action on the opinion, whether it's on free speech or on what's happening in Gaza, he chose to, he says, protect the fans, protect the tour, protect the people working.
00:02:20
Speaker 3: All of that.
00:02:21
Speaker 2: And I understand it, but it just, it feels like he just wants it to go away.
00:02:28
Speaker 1: Um, I, To a certain degree, that makes sense. This wasn't of his doing. He didn't say anything on stage at MetLife. Robes, that was his opening act. Somebody he supported, and they say they've been friends for a long, long time. I think, for whatever reason, what's the young lady's name? Barrera, that was in Scream, that they dumped, because she said, free Palestine.
00:02:49
Speaker 2: Oh, right.
00:02:50
Speaker 3: I can't remember her name, but I can look it up. Yes, I think you're correct.
00:02:53
Speaker 1: She's made some comments here lately. She's like, wow, I'm glad Macklemore's getting support. I didn't. I didn't get that love ropes. I'm surprised. And I think it had to do with his opening acts. I think that might have been the thing that really did Ed Sheeran in. But when Macklemore, who, yes, is a four time Grammy winner, but his hottest time, he used to be a headliner.
00:03:17
Speaker 3: Yes, absolutely.
00:03:18
Speaker 1: OK, so for him to go out there and make these comments. And now he is getting a groundswell of support. I was not expecting that.
00:03:28
Speaker 3: Neither was I. I was not either. And you are right. It is Melissa Barrera.
00:03:31
Speaker 2: She was fired from Scream 7 in November of 2023 after she put up some social media posts that supported Palestine and criticized Israel's actions in Gaza. Yes.
00:03:44
Speaker 3: So she was literally fired.
00:03:47
Speaker 1: I mean, what do you do? That means you cannot speak. We will not allow you artists to speak if it is not in line with something I, who is in charge, feels. This is pretty remarkable stuff we're having. I mean, yes, you have the right to say who's going to be in your venue. You have the right to say who's going to be in your movie. Okay, I get it. But man, there was something, Robes, about silencing someone. that really set people off.
00:04:15
Speaker 3: And yes, this is.
00:04:15
Speaker 2: Kind of about this, and I am not calling Israel or anyone who supports Israel a bully, but there have been bullying tactics used, and that is part of the complaints and criticisms surrounding Israel especially what happened with the Sheeran tour and Macklemore being removed. And I think it takes certain artists, like perhaps these folks who come from Ireland and the other who came from Denmark, who were raised with very different beliefs and strongly held beliefs that they are willing to fight for and lose money for.
00:04:51
Speaker 3: And lose opportunities for.
00:04:53
Speaker 2: And it takes a special kind of artist to be able to stand that ground. Because look, a lot of supporters of Israel, a lot of Jewish powerful folks are in the entertainment industry. And they're not just in the entertainment industry, they are in charge of the entertainment industry. So if you go against Israel and you speak out in any way that seems to be against the Jewish people, yes, you have powerful Jewish folks running a lot of these movie houses and production companies and recording artists, the entire entertainment industry oftentimes has a lot of very powerful people in charge who are associated with Israel.
00:05:33
Speaker 1: And that is something that's a part of the conversation that is out there in culture. And I think, Robes, this was a perfect storm. With the backdrop you just described, you happen to have Irish artists who were some of his headliners. Now you throw into it robes that we're not talking about a movie star said something. We're talking about a musician, an artist. They take that shit seriously.
00:05:58
Speaker 4: Yes.
00:05:59
Speaker 2: It's the lifeblood of many, many songs we've loved for decades.
00:06:04
Speaker 3: It is that passion.
00:06:05
Speaker 2: It is that stand up against the man mantra that so many recording artists take on from rap to music. I mean, it spans all genres, folk music, whatever. All artists cling to this as part of their, this is their outlet.
00:06:24
Speaker 3: This is their poetry. This is their duty.
00:06:27
Speaker 1: They actually do have brought change in the world based on a song being written.
00:06:32
Speaker 3: That's true.
00:06:33
Speaker 1: This is what they do, and you're going to tell this important issue. He spoke, and you said you're not allowed to speak anymore.
00:06:41
Speaker 3: Because it's not a political rally.
00:06:43
Speaker 2: What?
00:06:45
Speaker 1: This is a really incredible story. And I'm sure Michelle Barrera is like, what the hell? Where was my support? I lost jobs.
00:06:52
Speaker 5: And you're right.
00:06:52
Speaker 2: Maybe it is the difference between a movie actress and a musical artist.
00:06:57
Speaker 1: When the musical acts, when they dropped out, I could not believe. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Some of them had short and sweet statements. Like, we don't even need to explain ourselves.
00:07:06
Speaker 2: I bet Macklemore was shocked. I bet he was not expecting that. But probably it was a very welcome surprise.
00:07:13
Speaker 1: So when was the last, babe? That was September 4th and 5th?
00:07:16
Speaker 2: Yes.
00:07:16
Speaker 1: For those concerts.
00:07:17
Speaker 2: Correct.
00:07:17
Speaker 1: And then the next concerts after that, after MetLife and all this controversy started, Macklemore was kicked off after those shows. The next one wasn't until last night, Robes, last night at Lincoln Field in Philadelphia. Now, a lot of back and forth and things have happened and statements have come out in the meantime, but this was the first time we were going to see him back on stage. No opening acts, just him and a guitar. up there. But Robes, I will tell you, I was surprised that he chose to start. Like, he didn't play a song. He walked out there, picked up the microphone, and started talking. I was surprised that He just wanted to get it out of the way and let's move on and let's just have a good time now. I think so.
00:07:54
Speaker 2: It was probably weighing very heavily. And you saw, and you will hear in just a moment, the emotion in his voice. I think he needed to get it out to be able to perform. With that hanging over his head, he wouldn't have been able to do what he needed to do.
00:08:07
Speaker 1: I've got to get halfway through him. I have to make this speed. You know when you have.
00:08:10
Speaker 2: An important conversation, you have to have somebody you've got to get it over with first before you go on.
00:08:14
Speaker 3: You've just got to get it out.
00:08:16
Speaker 1: Here he was last night, Lincoln... Lincoln Field in Philadelphia. This is Ed Sheeran at the top of his show before he even played a single song.
00:08:26
Speaker 5: Before I play some songs tonight, I hope it's okay if I say a few words about this last week. I'm used to my music being criticized, and I'm always happy to take that because I'm lucky a lot of you like my stuff. I'm not surprised that other people don't.
00:08:44
Speaker 1: You know, it's normal. But this week, the criticism.
00:08:47
Speaker 5: Was about something much more important, and I've had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I'm so, so sorry. 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. My concerts have always been a safe space for everyone and that matters hugely to me. Honouring my commitment to my fans is also completely central to who I am and that is why I'm here tonight on my own and continuing my current tour. But I am deeply worried about the idea that venues should pre-approve content of performers. This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.
00:09:51
Speaker 1: All right, Rose, let me ask, what do you think of what you're hearing so far? Look, he.
00:10:00
Speaker 3: he's trying.
00:10:04
Speaker 2: To explain how he feels without going too far.
00:10:10
Speaker 3: I mean, what did you take away from that?
00:10:13
Speaker 1: This is what I take away, and you all are hearing it. You're not able to see it, and I think it is very important to see it. because he's standing there and he's looking down at a teleprompter as he's delivering this.
00:10:25
Speaker 3: And that takes away from what he's saying.
00:10:28
Speaker 1: It, and it shouldn't. I know these things have to be carefully written and he wanted to get it right. And that maybe that's it. I mean, he's not, I don't know how well, no, we went to his concert. He, Speaks off the fly from the heart all the time.
00:10:38
Speaker 3: He spoke more than we were expecting.
00:10:40
Speaker 1: Yes.
00:10:41
Speaker 2: We were like, just could you sing a little more and talk a little less?
00:10:45
Speaker 3: But yes, there is.
00:10:46
Speaker 1: We say that jokingly.
00:10:47
Speaker 3: We do.
00:10:47
Speaker 1: He made a joke about it. Yes.
00:10:49
Speaker 3: He was like, I sometimes I just keep talking and talking. We're like, yes, dude.
00:10:53
Speaker 1: He said his manager. Gets on to him, tells him he talks too much.
00:10:57
Speaker 3: Exhibit A.
00:10:57
Speaker 1: He said that early in the concert. I'm like, oh, he's just like, damn.
00:11:00
Speaker 3: You really kind of do. You said maybe he should listen to his manager more.
00:11:04
Speaker 2: But no, it is true, babe. When you watch him reading it, you know what? It doesn't even make me think less of him. It makes me feel like he's almost, I don't want to say being held hostage, but you can almost see this gun to his head. Like if you say the wrong thing, your entire concert is now going to go down the drain.
00:11:21
Speaker 3: And it made me feel sad for him.
00:11:24
Speaker 1: Because he looked like somebody who was doing something he had to do versus wanted to do. And authenticity, Robes, when it comes to this particular issue, there's like, where's your pain? Where's your passion? Yes, he got upset and bothered at the end. And we're going to let you hear that as well. But do you remember Robes? What was he emotional for? Was he crying on behalf of someone, on behalf of himself? Now, that is not a criticism. I'm saying I'm giving some optics in how this could be interpreted Because he is standing there, Robes, and to see someone reading from a script, something this important and passionate, it comes off a certain way. That's not a criticism. I'm saying I understand. You want to get every word right. But when you see it, Robes, after all that's happened the past week. It looked like a guy up there being forced to read a statement.
00:12:13
Speaker 3: Yeah, he felt.
00:12:14
Speaker 2: To me, it looked like he felt extremely vulnerable. He was extremely fearful. And when you do anything out of fear, it comes off that way. And you can't escape it. And him reading it, this guy... If he just came out... and took the stage and walked with the mic and was like, this has been a hell of a week, and he spoke with passion, and he spoke from his heart, and he spoke with conviction, it would have been far different. But he might have said the wrong thing. He might have pissed off another stadium owner. He might have pissed off certain fans in the audience. And so instead, you see him almost shaking in his boots, carefully reading something so as to continue not to offend, but to still try and impart some sort of connection to to the issue. It was tough because I saw somebody who wasn't free to be himself, free to say what he wanted to say. And that's the whole point of what got Macklemore, like the whole frustration and the whole, a lot of the anger.
00:13:09
Speaker 3: Yes, it's about Gaza, but it's also just about free speech.
00:13:12
Speaker 2: And the fact that yes, your entire opening act, including your house band left you alone and you're standing on this stage and you're trying to explain it.
00:13:24
Speaker 1: Oh, now, see, this happens every single episode. You finally hit the thing, and I go, ah, now I get it. That, Robes, is why I think I might be having such a hard time because we saw him in concert with his house band. They only do about five or so songs with him, so they're up there 20, 30 minutes tops of a three-hour show. But he spoke about them so passionately. their time that they've been together, times they've written songs together. He gave us at least five times. He said, they're going to be doing a show, so-and-so, and you need to go check them out.
00:13:58
Speaker 3: He was proud of them.
00:13:59
Speaker 1: He was proud. He didn't mention the pain of losing that band.
00:14:02
Speaker 3: And he should have.
00:14:03
Speaker 1: He didn't mention Macklemore.
00:14:05
Speaker 3: And he should have.
00:14:06
Speaker 2: And that's my issue because that's why I think he got emotional. He feels betrayed, and he also feels like he's being accused of betraying. So it's just he feels probably attacked.
00:14:17
Speaker 5: On a very.
00:14:18
Speaker 2: cellular level. Like, you didn't stand up for your team. You didn't stand up for your people. You didn't stand up for your opening acts. And they all left.
00:14:30
Speaker 1: And all of the ropes, they are Irish and they're artists. He is Irish... An artist. Why is there a disconnect between what they feel like is the right thing and what you feel like is the right thing?
00:14:46
Speaker 3: Because he has more to lose.
00:14:47
Speaker 1: There it is, baby. And that, I don't, I am not criticizing him. I'm understanding why we're putting some of this together. Why, yes, that whole package looks like something that's quite. Criticizable.
00:15:01
Speaker 3: Inauthentic.
00:15:02
Speaker 2: Yes. Yes.
00:15:03
Speaker 4: All right.
00:15:03
Speaker 1: Well, stay here, folks. We're going to let you hear the rest. What he had to say, it only went about three minutes, but he did at the very top of the show. We'll let you hear the rest of it and give you our full reaction.
00:15:13
Speaker 4: All right, we continue here on Amy and TJ want to pick up where Ed Sheeran left off.
00:15:26
Speaker 1: It was about a minute and a half in his comments. First comment since. And for his concert, since Macklemore got kicked off the tour, here he is picking it back up, talking to the audience at the very top of his show last night.
00:15:39
Speaker 5: Now, I want to address the question of where I stand in the situation in Israel and Palestine and whether my doing this concert here tonight implies where I stand. I have tried in my career not to be a political commentator of any kind because I want my music and shows to be about unity, not division. about humanity, not politics. But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore. What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on October 7th was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate. My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians' lives, of children's lives. And the systemic injustice we're seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked. I honestly am so grateful that you're here tonight with me. This concert is still a place where everyone is welcome, and everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing views, and everyone here can stand by people that they don't agree with on everything, but they can all agree on singing these songs.
00:17:08
Speaker 1: And that was it. And singing these songs. I didn't like how it ended either. But, Ropes, he said, I cannot longer stand by and not talk about where I stand. Where does he stand, based on what you just heard?
00:17:20
Speaker 3: That he understands both sides.
00:17:22
Speaker 1: Okay, and that's the thing, babe. You don't have to take a stand. We always think a stand has to be on this side or that side. Your stand can just be on the side of everybody working this out and being safe and free and not dying. We've turned this conversation always into a thing where somebody has to take a stand. He led with that. I can no longer not That was a little weird.
00:17:51
Speaker 3: And he didn't say anything.
00:17:52
Speaker 2: You were expecting him to actually, yes, make a choice in terms of, not that I would expect him to have said free Palestine, but I did expect more. Now, he did use the words in terms of what's happening to the Palestinian people as unjustified and disproportionate.
00:18:11
Speaker 3: Them are fighting words for some folks.
00:18:12
Speaker 1: Systemic injustice that we're seeing. He did use about three to five words that puts him... In the arena. But he didn't lead with them, and they were kind of tucked in there.
00:18:26
Speaker 3: But he said them.
00:18:27
Speaker 1: It will require some interpretation and some understanding and some closer listening. But as carefully worded as this thing was, those words were in there for a reason.
00:18:37
Speaker 3: Correct.
00:18:38
Speaker 2: He had to choose them carefully. But as you point out, he started off the sentence by acknowledging what happened on October 7th. what reignited the now current humanitarian crisis that we're seeing. And that was, of course, he didn't mention Hamas, but he did mention the festival, the music festival, where it began the current conflict we're in now.
00:19:03
Speaker 1: Yes, that was a Hamas action. And that's what folks took issue with Macklemore. Now, if he would have started his like that?
00:19:09
Speaker 3: That's what I'm curious.
00:19:10
Speaker 2: If he had acknowledged that, if he had just said what Sheeran had just said, saying, Yes, it began. It was a horrible thing that happened. But free Palestine. I do think they would have had a harder time saying, you can't say that. I think that would have maybe given him a little cushioning to continue.
00:19:32
Speaker 3: They might have issued a warning.
00:19:34
Speaker 1: Issued a warning.
00:19:36
Speaker 3: I mean, he might have gotten a yellow card.
00:19:38
Speaker 1: Or some suggested language. For the next concert.
00:19:41
Speaker 3: Correct. Which he would not have taken.
00:19:43
Speaker 1: Is this over yet? There hasn't been necessarily a whole lot of reaction. This was just last night. This was late last night in Philadelphia. So I don't know how this is going to be received. But he said what he had to say. He said it at the top. The show goes on. I think that is a headline roped. He did make clear the tour is going to go on.
00:20:00
Speaker 3: Correct.
00:20:01
Speaker 2: And look, we've heard and seen some headlines about slow ticket sales.
00:20:05
Speaker 3: That remains to be seen.
00:20:06
Speaker 2: But I did read the Wall Street Journal had an article about some of the fans who they were tailgating around the arena. And obviously, if they are there, they're supporting Sheeran. So everyone was there supporting him, saying politics matters. They are not here for the politics. They're here for the music. It wasn't much, yes. So it seems like, look, the people who showed up were the people who were there for Ed Sheeran. A couple people said, yeah, it would have been nice to have seen some of the opening acts, but I bought the tickets for Ed Sheeran, so it's all about Ed Sheeran. And most people seemed to show tremendous support for him. And you could hear it in the cheering. If you came out to see the concert, you were there to support him.
00:20:44
Speaker 1: You know, would it hurt the tour? Or help the tour if Macklemore at this point was still on it.
00:20:51
Speaker 3: Oh, he would help. Are you kidding me?
00:20:52
Speaker 1: I wonder.
00:20:53
Speaker 3: Without a doubt.
00:20:53
Speaker 1: Right? It's weird that we're talking about he is a leading voice. Macklemore. Popping tags. I'm going to pop something. Yeah, that guy.
00:21:02
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:21:04
Speaker 1: Only got $ 20 in my pocket. Yes, that guy is leading a conversation about Palestine.
00:21:10
Speaker 3: It's wild.
00:21:11
Speaker 1: Artists, right?
00:21:12
Speaker 3: Yes.
00:21:13
Speaker 1: Remember that. Artists. They have us all talking about this, babe. That is a big deal. Give them credit. Here they go once again.
00:21:19
Speaker 2: And millions of dollars headed to help and the aid of the Palestinian people started by Macklemore but continued by many others.
00:21:26
Speaker 3: Ed Sheeran himself also donating two million.
00:21:30
Speaker 2: Miss Rachel also donating a million dollars as well encouraging others to do so.
00:21:35
Speaker 1: Others.
00:21:36
Speaker 3: Others.
00:21:36
Speaker 1: That's a very specific group she was asking to donate money.
00:21:38
Speaker 2: She wanted rich white celebrities to pull out their wallets and also match that million dollars.
00:21:45
Speaker 3: Still not sure if Robert Kraft did but He was challenged. He acknowledged that.
00:21:49
Speaker 1: He acknowledged that he was challenged.
00:21:52
Speaker 2: But he didn't specify whether or not he followed through on said challenge.
00:21:56
Speaker 1: Isn't that crazy? Robert Graff has $ 2 million. His sofa cushion, like, just loose change.
00:22:00
Speaker 2: Right?
00:22:00
Speaker 3: Like, it's so funny.
00:22:01
Speaker 1: All right, folks, just wanted to give you that update. What more to come? We don't know, but when it happens, we'll be all over it. We appreciate you, as always, spending a little time with us. This is my dear Amy Robach. I am TJ Holmes. We will talk to you soon.