Ed Sheeran breaks down onstage as family ‘abandons’ him over Macklemore fallout

Ed Sheeran broke down in tears onstage in Philadelphia after saying friends and relatives had distanced themselves from him amid the fallout over rapper Macklemore’s removal from his tour following pro-Palestinian remarks. The 35-year-old singer addressed the controversy during his Saturday night performance at Lincoln Financial Field, at one point sitting down onstage as he described what he called one of the hardest weeks of his life. The dispute began earlier this month after Macklemore, who had been appearing as an opening act at Sheeran’s New Jersey shows, repeatedly called to “free Palestine” from the stage. Macklemore was subsequently removed from the tour, prompting criticism of Sheeran and a wave of withdrawals by other opening acts, including members of his supporting band, according to the report. “In situations like this, you really find out who your friends are. It’s been a strange week,” Sheeran told the crowd.