艾德·希兰就巡演开除助演风波致歉并称加沙局势无法辩解Ed Sheeran Apologizes for Tour Turmoil and Calls Gaza War Unjustifiable

希兰在费城林肯金融球场独自登台时向全场观众直言，自己此前习惯于因音乐作品而面临评价，但过去一周遭遇的批评关乎更重要的议题。他表示自己不得不做出艰难决定，并在过程中犯了错误，对此向歌迷深表歉意。他坦言自己从未想过成为一名行动主义音乐人，但这场争议已将他推向关于言论自由以及全球最复杂政治议题的激烈辩论中心。

Taking the stage alone at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Sheeran told the audience that while he was accustomed to facing criticism regarding his music, the pushback over the past week concerned a far more important matter. He acknowledged having to make difficult choices and apologized directly to fans for making mistakes. Sheeran noted that although he never intended to become an activist musician, the unfolding controversy had placed him squarely in the middle of a passionate debate surrounding free speech and a deeply complex global political issue.

在澄清自身立场时，希兰强调音乐和演出本应传递团结而非分裂，但他无法再掩盖自己对这一人道主义问题的真实感受。他表示2023年10月7日针对以色列的袭击加剧了犹太人几个世纪以来的痛苦，而加沙平民与儿童生命的逝去以及巨大破坏规模令人心碎。希兰同时指出，约旦河西岸正在发生的系统性不公同样不容忽视，并提及巡演在此前争议爆发后一度面临是否能够继续的不确定性。

Sheeran explained that while he had long strived to avoid political commentary so his concerts would promote unity rather than division, he felt compelled to speak out on what he defined as a humanitarian issue. He stated that the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel compounded centuries of Jewish pain, while adding that his heart was broken by the devastating scale of civilian casualties and children's deaths in Gaza. Sheeran also emphasized that systemic injustice unfolding in the West Bank could not be overlooked, noting there had been uncertainty over whether the tour would continue at all.

巡演风波始于说唱歌手麦克勒莫尔于9月5日在新泽西州东卢瑟福的大都会人寿体育场（MetLife Stadium）演出期间喊出“解放巴勒斯坦”的口号。麦克勒莫尔随后通过社交平台表示，新英格兰爱国者队老板罗伯特·卡夫（Robert Kraft）通知希兰团队，若麦克勒莫尔继续留在巡演名单中，他将被禁止在卡夫旗下位于马萨诸塞州福克斯堡的吉列体育场登台演出，希兰原定于9月25日和26日在该场馆举行演唱会。麦克勒莫尔指出，多家体育场业主同样提出了类似要求。

The tour turmoil originated during a September 5 performance at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where opening rapper Macklemore exclaimed 'Free Palestine' while on stage. Macklemore later posted on social media that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft had informed Sheeran that the rapper would be barred from performing at Kraft's Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where Sheeran was scheduled to perform on September 25 and 26. According to Macklemore, Kraft and other stadium owners insisted that Sheeran would not be permitted to use their venues if Macklemore remained on the tour roster.

面对场馆方的撤换要求，希兰否认自己是作出开除决定的主导者，并将责任归咎于巡演主办方及体育场业主的施压。希兰在费城演出现场表示，演出场馆审查表演者言论的做法令他深感担忧。他提到这种审查在全球许多演出地点屡见不鲜，但在自由世界本不该发生。此前他在社交媒体上曾表示，购买门票的观众并不期望演唱会演变为政治辩论场所。

Addressing the dispute, Sheeran denied being the driving force behind the decision to remove Macklemore, attributing the move to pressure exerted by tour promoters and stadium owners. On stage in Philadelphia, Sheeran expressed deep concern over concert venues vetting artists' speech and performance content. He stated that while such restrictions occur in various venues around the world, they should never happen in the free world. Earlier in the week, Sheeran had noted on social media that concert audiences do not expect live shows to serve as a political forum.

在麦克勒莫尔被移出巡演名单后，原定参与巡演的多组助演艺人相继宣布退演以示声援。此前计划接替麦克勒莫尔的丹麦乐队Lukas Graham与爱尔兰歌手阿隆·罗威（Aaron Rowe）均选择退出演出。原定于今年晚些时候与希兰共同前往南美洲巡演的美国音乐人芬尼亚斯（Finneas）同样宣布不再参与后续巡演。在过去巡演中，希兰主要以独奏形式完成演出，并在每站邀请爱尔兰民谣乐队Beoga同台合作数首歌曲，但此次风波导致他在费城演唱会开场阶段只能独自登台且无预热嘉宾助阵。

Following Macklemore's removal from the tour lineup, several supporting artists announced their withdrawals to show solidarity with the rapper. Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe, who were initially lined up to replace Macklemore, both backed out of the shows. American musician Finneas, who was scheduled to tour South America with Sheeran later this year, also dropped out. Sheeran has historically performed much of his Loop Tour solo, regularly joined on stage for select songs by Irish folk band Beoga; however, the abrupt departures left him opening the Philadelphia concert entirely alone on stage without any opening act.

艺人的相继退出与持续争论迅速波及商业层面，巡演面临公众的抵制呼声，批评人士指责希兰未能顶住体育场业主的施压。受此争议影响，希兰“Loop巡演”美国剩余场次的门票销售出现放缓，二级市场及相关渠道的票价与销量均显现下滑态势。

The wave of performer cancellations and the dispute rapidly spilled over into the commercial side of the tour. Sheeran faced targeted boycott calls from critics who accused him of failing to stand up against stadium owners. In the wake of the controversy, remaining dates on the United States leg of the Loop Tour experienced declining ticket sales alongside falling ticket prices.

在费城林肯金融球场外，一小群亲巴勒斯坦示威者在演出现场入口处聚集，他们挥舞着巴勒斯坦旗帜，高喊抗议口号向入场观众表达诉求。部分原计划观演的歌迷改变了计划，34岁的费城居民希拉里·斯坦伯格（Hillary Steinberg）表示，自己早在约一年前就购买了门票，但在麦克勒莫尔被踢出巡演后选择退票并前往球场外参与抗议，对希兰未能公开表明明确立场感到失望。

Outside Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, a small gathering of pro-Palestinian demonstrators congregated ahead of the show, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans to greet arriving concertgoers. The controversy prompted some ticket holders to reconsider attending; Hillary Steinberg, a 34-year-old resident of Philadelphia, explained that she had purchased her concert tickets roughly a year in advance but opted to obtain a refund and join the outside demonstration instead, expressing disappointment that Sheeran had not taken a firmer stance.

尽管场外出现示威声浪，球场内仍迎来了几乎满场的观众，现场部分歌迷对巡演引发的政治辩论表现出不同反应。一些受访观众表示更关注演唱会本身的音乐表演，来自宾夕法尼亚州波茨敦的55岁教师乔伊·范鲁勒（Joy VanRuler）在开演前表示相关争议对她并未造成影响。

Despite the demonstration outside, the performance drew a nearly full stadium, where audience members presented contrasting views on the political dispute surrounding the tour. Some attendees indicated that the debate did not detract from their interest in the music, including Joy VanRuler, a 55-year-old teacher from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, who remarked before the show that the surrounding controversy did not matter to her.