WATCH: Ed Sheeran Addresses Macklemore Controversy At Concert In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania transcript

[cheering] >> This is the last time we have an opportunity to share the performance of the songs tonight. I hope it's okay if I say a few words about this last week. >> [cheering] >> I'm used to being criticized and I'm always happy to take that because luckily a lot of you like myself and some of you sometimes I'm not surprised that other people don't you know it's normal. But this week the criticism was about something much more important and I've had to take and make difficult decisions and I have made 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. >> [cheering] >> My concerts have always been a safe space for everyone and that matters hugely to me. >> [cheering] >> Honoring 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 PLANNED TOUR. >> [cheering] [cheering] >> I AM DEEPLY WORRIED about the idea of venues pre-approving content and performance. This happens in so many places that I perform around the world. >> [cheering] >> Now, I want to address the question of where I stand in the situation of 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, [cheering] 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's been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilian lives, children's lives. And the systemic injustice we're seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked. I am already speaking to people across the spectrum to work out how to make a contribution that helps victims in these terrible times. I'm listening and learning because I do not know enough. I honestly am so grateful that you are here tonight with me.

This is where everyone is welcome and everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing views and everyone here can stand beside people that they don't agree with on everything, but they can all agree on singing these songs. >> [cheering]