Ed Sheeran is set to resume his tour in Philadelphia on Saturday, days after opening act Macklemore was dropped from the tour following pro-Palestinian comments he made onstage. Sheeran’s return to the stage at Lincoln Financial Field will come after his opening acts and supporting band withdre w in solidarity with Macklemore. As of Saturday morning, Ticketmaster did not list any other performers joining Sheeran as part of his LOOP Tour. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Neil Fischer (@neilfischertv) How the controversy started Saturday’s show comes after a tumultuous week that began with Macklemore being dropped from the tour after exclaiming “Free Palestine” during a Sept. 5 show in New Jersey. Sheeran has said he was not responsible for the decision, which came at the urging of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. His company owns a stadium where Sheeran’s tour is scheduled to play on Friday. Within hours of Sheeran’s statement Tuesday, his supporting acts began withdrawing from the tour. Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother and musical collaborator, was due to tour with Sheeran in South America later this year before he also dropped out earlier this week. “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” Finneas said on Instagram. “I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.” Sheeran has said the tour promoter was ultimately responsible for the decision to drop Macklemore. The Grammy winner was adamant in his Tuesday statement that he wouldn’t be drawn into a discussion of the war in Gaza, arguing that his fans don’t come to his shows to hear about those issues. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ed Sheeran (@teddysphotos) He also said he “spoke with the venues at length all week to try to build a bridge” before Macklemore was dropped. He insisted he would never willingly let down his fans or abandon the touring crew and others who rely on him to make a living. Philadelphia fans react Some Ed Sheeran fans who had tickets to the Philadelphia concert told NBC10 that they were trying to sell them because of the controversy. Karen DeAngelis of Gloucester, Virginia, said she was looking to sell her tickets after planning her trip to Philadelphia for almost a year. “Honestly, I’m really disappointed in Ed Sheeran,” DeAngelis said. Ticketmaster says refunds or resales are generally available only if the event organizer approves them, with sales otherwise considered final. “Sometimes you think, ‘Should I separate and just enjoy the music from who the person is?’ And certainly sometimes you can’t do that because what they’re doing is so egregious that it’s just very different from how your morals are as a person,” DeAngelis said. Protests planned A protest involving pro-Palestinian groups is scheduled ahead of Saturday’s concert. NBC Philadelphia reached out to the group organizing the protest for comment but has not heard back. The Philadelphia Police Department told NBC10 that officers are “working closely with venue and event organizers to help ensure the safety of concertgoers, employees, and neighborhood residents.” “PPD routinely monitors large events and assesses staffing needs to ensure an appropriate police presence. There is a protest group expected there tomorrow. Our Civil Affairs Unit will be on hand to ensure everyone’s safety during protected 1st Amendment activity,” police wrote. SEPTA also said it is aware of the scheduled protest. NBC Philadelphia also reached out to Lincoln Financial Field but has not heard back. The concert is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. on Saturday with Sheeran listed online as the only act. Tickets for Saturday’s show were still being sold for as low as $54. ...read more read less