PHILADELPHIA — Ed Sheeran revealed during his concert at Lincoln Financial Field that he removed a secondary performance platform from his Philadelphia show because he was worried about the crowd's reaction, according to TMZ.com.
Speaking to the audience, Sheeran explained that he had originally planned to perform on a B Stage but decided against it. "I didn't know what this audience would be like. I didn't know if I would have things thrown at me," he told the crowd, per TMZ.com.
He added, "I was afraid of what might happen if I stood in the middle. And I will admit that," according to TMZ.com.
The decision followed a week of turmoil on the tour. Every opening act quit after Macklemore was removed from the lineup over a pro-Palestine speech, TMZ.com reported.
Addressing the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field, Sheeran said he was "so, so sorry," according to TMZ.com. He continued: "I don't want to disappoint fans, and I've never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet," he told the crowd, per TMZ.com.
Security was a significant concern for the event, but the concert proceeded without incident, TMZ.com reported. The Philadelphia Police Department had previously told TMZ.com that it would take "appropriate measures" to ensure everyone's safety.
The performance took place on Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles, drawing thousands of fans to the South Philadelphia stadium.