Ed Sheeran became emotional during his concert at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on September 19 as he reflected on a turbulent week surrounding the removal of Macklemore from his tour, following the rapper’s pro-Palestinian remarks. Sheeran told the crowd that the controversy had led some longtime friends and family members to distance themselves from him, while all of his scheduled support acts, including his backing band, withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.
“In these situations you really find out who your friends are. It’s been a weird week,” Sheeran said in footage captured by a fan. He said he had been urged by people he had known “for years and years and years” to cancel the tour, adding that he felt “all of my friends and family and people I know abandon me.” Sheeran then pointed to the crowd saying, “I see 50,000 people who haven’t abandoned me.”
Sheeran described the concert as “the best show of my life,” while calling the preceding week one of the worst he had experienced. “The world is a scary place right now, America is a scary place right now,” he told the crowd, before adding, “This gives hope.”
Whether they're overwhelmed by the support of their fans or moved by the meaning behind their songs, stars sometimes struggle to hold back their tears on stage. Click through to see some of the most touching moments when famous singers broke down in front of their fans.