Ed Sheeran Slammed Over “Teleprompter Tears” Apology For Failing To Mention Israel

Ed Sheeran took the stage in Philadelphia on Saturday night and delivered what he called a heartfelt apology, but the internet immediately called him out for making it look like a performance instead of a genuine moment.

The British singer stood at Lincoln Financial Field reading from a teleprompter while tears streamed down his face, apologizing for the “difficult decisions” he’d made during what he described as the “hardest week of my life.”

The problem?

Everyone in the front row could see the script in front of him, and that detail became the story faster than his actual words could land.

“I am making mistakes, and I am so so sorry,” he told the crowd, but social media users were already questioning why someone delivering a personal apology would need a prepared statement on a screen.

Critics pointed out that his entire speech appeared rehearsed despite the visible emotion, with one user posting, “This crying act made me dislike Ed Sheeran more than I already did before and also annoy me and think of him as a slimy c*nt.”

The contradiction between his tears and the teleprompter created a credibility gap that overshadowed whatever message he was trying to send about the Gaza conflict.

Sheeran called the situation in Gaza “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate,” acknowledging the October 7 attacks as “horrific,” but he notably never mentioned Israel by name.

Some observers felt he should’ve used the word “genocide” or been more direct about who was responsible for the devastation.

Instead, he spent much of his statement talking about his own pressure and his commitment to his fans, which felt like deflection to people who wanted him to take a clearer stance.

The whole situation spiraled after Macklemore said “Free Palestine” at a MetLife Stadium show on September 5, and billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, pressured venues to remove him from the tour.

Four supporting acts quit in solidarity: Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, Finneas, and his backing band Beoga. Sheeran performed without an opening act, bringing five musicians on stage who’d learned his songs in just three days.

Macklemore announced he’ll donate $1 million to Palestinian relief organizations, putting his money where his mouth is in a way that made Sheeran’s teleprompter tears look even more hollow by comparison.

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the stadium while Sheeran tried to navigate the impossible position he’d been put in.

The tour continues with shows at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on September 25 and 26, where Kraft’s influence will likely loom even larger over everything that happens on stage.