Ed Sheeran concert goes on in Philadelphia, despite controversy

PHILADELPHIA – Ed Sheeran's Loop tour stop is underway, despite dropped opening acts, a missing tour band and a changed start time.

In one of the many concert parking lots surrounding Lincoln Financial Field on Sept. 19, fans and families tailgate to the sound of “Shape of You” coming from an open trunk’s speaker. Kids sporting Loop tour merch head to the bathroom before crossing busy streets to the stadium entrance.

An uninformed eye may not know that this tour has been at the center of social and political debate.

The tour fallout started after rapper Macklemore's "Free Palestine" speech while performing with Sheeran at MetLife Stadium. The conflict has been incendiary, resulting in upset from fans, celebrities and all of Sheeran's opening acts.

At NRG station, organizers from the Philly Palestine Coalition organized protests beginning at 4:30 p.m., despite the showtime being pushed back because of the absence of opening acts.

Last week, Macklemore shared that he was dropped from Sheeran's tour after a number of stadium owners gave Sheeran the "ultimatum" that if Macklemore was on the tour, they would not be permitted to play the venue.

Sheeran confirmed that venue owners threatened to pull shows if Macklemore…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/entertainment/