Piers Morgan has criticised Ed Sheeran over the singer's tearful on-stage apology in Philadelphia, saying the musician "needs better advisors," according to The Independent.
Sheeran addressed the crowd at his first show since a controversy involving Macklemore, telling the audience he had made "mistakes," the BBC reported. Sky News reported that Sheeran told the Philadelphia crowd, "I'm so, so sorry."
The Guardian reported that during the same show Sheeran described the situation in Gaza as "unjustifiable."
The episode follows a period of turmoil for Sheeran's tour. The Telegraph, in its own coverage, wrote that Sheeran had "held out longer than most" against what it called the "Free Palestine" movement, framing his eventual remarks as a shift after extended pressure. The Independent's report focuses on Morgan's reaction to the apology itself, with the broadcaster and columnist arguing that Sheeran's representatives should have handled the matter differently.
The coverage across outlets reflects differing readings of the same event: the BBC and Sky News emphasised Sheeran's admission of mistakes and his apology to the Philadelphia audience, while The Guardian highlighted his comments on Gaza and The Telegraph characterised his position as a late change. Morgan's criticism, as reported by The Independent, adds a further strand — that the singer's public handling of the row, rather than the underlying issue, is what drew his objection.
Sheeran has not responded publicly to Morgan's remarks in the material available. What to watch next is whether Sheeran addresses the criticism directly or adjusts his approach at upcoming tour dates.
