Ed Sheeran fans attending the pop star’s Philadelphia concert ‌on Saturday said they still support the Englishsinger-songwriter despite a controversy over Macklemore being pulled from thetour over his remarks on Palestine.

Addressing theissue from the stage, Sheeran told the crowd he had made “mistakes” during “difficultdecisions,” according to the BBC.

“I never wanted tobe an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important andpassionate argument about free speech and the most complex political issue onthe planet,” he said, according to the British broadcaster.

Sheeran’s show ⁠at Lincoln Financial Field marked his firstperformance since rapper Macklemore announced he had been removed as one of thetour’s opening acts after saying “Free Palestine” at a show early this month.The tour’s other supporting acts subsequently quit to show solidarity withMacklemore.

The controversydid not matter to people who spoke to Reuters on Saturday before Sheeran tookto the stage.

Joy VanRuler, a55-year-old teacher from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, said she supports bothartists.

“It doesn’t needto be political,” VanRuler said in an interview outside the stadium inPhiladelphia. “It’s about the music, and we support both of them and it’s allgood.”

Macklemore “shouldn’thave talked about politics,” said Javier Hernandez, a 62-year-old designer fromAllentown, Pennsylvania, whose daughter invited him to the concert. “It givesthe people an opportunity to raise their voices and just make ‌a mess ⁠ofthe whole situation. He should have just left it alone.”

Dozens ofpro-Palestinian protesters gathered about half a mile from the concert venueahead of Sheeran’s performance. Organizers said they were there to talk topeople about the conditions on the ground in Gaza and to highlight local groupsadvocating for Palestinians.

Macklemore postedon Instagram this week that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft had toldSheeran that Macklemore would not be allowed ⁠to perform at Gillette Stadium inFoxborough, Massachusetts, where Sheeran has shows on September 25 and 26.Kraft said in a statement that Macklemore would not perform at those shows.

Macklemore saidKraft and other stadium owners had told Sheeran he would not be allowed toperform in their venues ⁠ifMacklemore remained on the tour.

Macklemore said “FreePalestine” during a September 4 concert at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford,New Jersey.

“If those wordscost me the stage, while turning the conversation back to Palestine, then itwas the most successful tour I’ve been on,” ⁠Macklemore wrote this week.

In an Instagrampost on Tuesday, Sheeran said the promoter was responsible for removingMacklemore and that he has “personal views on this devastating conflict”despite being publicly apolitical.

“Those who come tomy shows do not expect a political forum,” Sheeran wrote.