Ed Sheeran faced widespread accusations of 'self-victimising' after he broke down on stage last weekend during his Loop tour in Philadelphia. The incident occurred when he described the week as 'the worst week of his life' and apologized for 'mistakes' he had made. He was performing solo after the remaining support acts—Finneas O’Connell, Aaron Rowe, and Lukas Graham—had left the tour, and Sheeran’s backing band had also withdrawn in solidarity with rapper Macklemore, who had been removed from the US leg of the tour for stating 'Free Palestine' on stage. Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, had previously claimed that he was given an 'ultimatum' by Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, ordering his removal from the tour or else Sheeran would not be allowed to play at the venue. This led to the cancellation of Sheeran's shows at Gillette Stadium due to severe weather warnings in Boston and New England. The safety of fans, staff, and everyone involved in the shows was cited as the top priority. Nadiya Hussain, winner of the Great British Bake Off, criticized Sheeran for crying 'white tears' after he broke down on stage. She shared a video by therapist Megan Cooper, who explained that 'white tears' are a cultural tactic using emotion to deflect accountability, gain sympathy, and centre self in conflict and challenge, particularly during discussions around racism and oppression. Cooper emphasized that the emotion of white individuals is now prized above the actual issue, in this case, genocide. Jeremy Clarkson criticized the reference to 'white tears' in his latest column for The Sun, stating he had no idea what the term meant. He previously defended Sheeran, accusing critics of 'bullying' the global superstar and suggesting that critics wanted him to take a stance on Palestine, which he was not inclined to do. Macklemore has since announced a Free Palestine tour and donated his entire $1 million fee from the Loop Tour to humanitarian aid organizations working with the Palestinian people. In a statement on Instagram, he said the events highlighted a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation and the power of billionaires trying to censor that call. He emphasized that being apolitical during a genocide no longer works and that artists are expected to show up, educate themselves, and be in community.