Ed Sheeran speaks about Macklemore row in first performance since incident unfolded

The English singer said he had tried in the past not to be a 'political commentator' because he wanted his shows to be about 'unity': 'I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore'

Ed Sheeran performed in Philadelphia (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Ed Sheeran said he questioned whether he “wanted to be an artist at all” as controversy over Macklemore’s removal from his world tour threatened its future.

Support acts and the backing band for the star’s current The Loop tour, including Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, dropped out of the remaining dates after the US rapper, real name Benjamin Haggerty, was removed from the line-up following comments about the conflict in Gaza.