Ed Sheeran has apologised to fans for making "mistakes" as he opened his first show since Macklemore was dropped from his tour for making pro-Palestinian remarks on stage. The singer began his concert in Philadelphia by addressing the controversy that has since engulfed the tour and prompted all of his support acts to quit."

I never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about free speech and the most complex political issue on the planet," Sheeran said. The singer has said the decision to drop Macklemore was made by his promoters, not him.

The row has seen ticket prices drop and sales decline for the remaining US leg of his Loop Tour. He said he wanted to "address the question of where I stand in the situation in 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", he continued. " But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore."

Sheeran said what happened in Israel on 7 October was "horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain", and what was happening in Gaza was "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate". " My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilian lives, of children's lives, and this systemic injustice we're seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked."

Some protesters waved flags outside the venue, but the concert proceeded largely unfettered. A protester who gave his name as Cooper said he had come out "to support the struggle for" the Palestinian people."

We need more people like Macklemore and other artists who have a voice, who have a public platform, to be able to speak on behalf of the Palestinian people and their struggle for liberation, especially in the United States," he said. Of the handful of ticket-holders who stopped to talk to the BBC prior to the show, there was a sentiment of determination to enjoy an evening of music while at the same time supporting freedom of speech.

The controversy began in early September, when Macklemore performed a song dedicated to pro-Palestinian protesters and referred to the death toll in Gaza as a genocide, a claim Israel rejects. Messina Touring Group said Macklemore was dropped because some venues - such as Gillette Stadium in Boston, Massachusetts - would refuse to let the concerts take place if he performed.