Ed Sheeran Removes B-Stage in Philadelphia, Citing Security Concerns

Ed Sheeran performed in Philadelphia on Saturday with a visibly altered stage setup, scrapping the B-stage typically positioned mid-crowd. Speaking to the audience during the show, he said the decision came from uncertainty about how he would be received following the Macklemore controversy.

“I didn’t know what this audience would be like tonight. I didn’t know if I would have things thrown at me,” Sheeran said. “I took the B-stage out because I was afraid of what might happen if I stood in the middle.”

The concert was his first since Macklemore was removed as support act from the tour. The fallout extended further into the band: Beoga, Sheeran’s touring group, withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore. With shows already scheduled, Sheeran turned to longtime collaborator Alicia Enstrom to assemble a replacement band. The musicians had three days of rehearsal before joining him onstage.

He addressed the strain directly, noting that the new band agreed to play with full knowledge that the public might view them negatively for standing with him. The Philadelphia show opened with Sheeran discussing the controversy, venue restrictions on artist speech, and his own positions on Israel and Palestine.