When approximately 40,000 people refunded their tickets to Ed Sheeran’s latest concerts, the singer responded in a way that nobody expected.
Instead of getting angry or canceling the shows, Sheeran decided to buy all 40,000 tickets himself and donate them to Vet Tix, a free program that provides tickets to concerts and sporting events for low-income veterans.
The unexpected move quickly turned what had been a difficult moment for Sheeran into a gesture of generosity, giving thousands of veterans an opportunity to attend his concerts.
“I don’t care if nobody shows up at my concerts,” Sheeran said. “It’s really fine by me, but I won’t let those seats go to waste.”
Sheeran said he didn’t want the refunded tickets to simply disappear without giving somebody else a chance to use them.
“I just want to be a good artist who entertains people and sings his songs,” he added. “If there are empty seats because someone doesn’t want to come, that’s their choice. But there are people who would love the opportunity to be there.”
The decision comes as Sheeran continues dealing with controversy surrounding his U.S. tour and his position that political arguments should not dominate his concerts.
The situation became increasingly complicated after Macklemore was removed from remaining tour dates following political comments made during a performance. Several other performers subsequently withdrew from upcoming shows, adding another layer of uncertainty around Sheeran’s tour.
Rather than responding to the controversy with another political statement, Sheeran chose to focus on the people who might still want to hear his music.
The donation to Vet Tix means veterans who otherwise might not be able to afford concert tickets could now have the opportunity to attend.
Sheeran said that was ultimately what mattered to him.
“If someone wants to come to the show, I want them there,” he said. “I don’t care where they come from or what they believe. If they want to listen to music and have a good night, that’s what the concert is for.”
The singer also said he wasn’t interested in keeping track of how many people decided to return their tickets.
“Forty thousand tickets is a lot of seats,” Sheeran said. “But I look at it differently. That’s 40,000 opportunities for somebody else to enjoy the show.”
The move quickly became one of the most talked-about moments surrounding Sheeran’s tour, particularly because the singer had faced calls from critics to change his approach.
Instead, Sheeran doubled down on his belief that music should bring people together.
“I don’t want to spend my life arguing with people,” he said. “I want to write songs, perform them and hopefully make people happy.”
For veterans receiving the donated tickets, the controversy surrounding the tour may ultimately matter far less than the opportunity to attend a live concert.
And for Sheeran, the message was simple: if thousands of seats suddenly become available, find people who would be happy to fill them.
“I’m just trying to be a good artist,” he said. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”