Ed Sheeran ended his controversy-hit Philadelphia concert in tears on Saturday night, becoming emotional for the second time during the performance.

The singer paused to collect himself before thanking the audience and apologizing to parents who had brought their children expecting an evening centered on music, not the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Visibly moved, the 35-year-old struggled to contain his emotions as he spoke to fans at Lincoln Financial Field. His closing remarks came after he had delivered another tearful address about the war earlier in the night.

‘I’m so grateful,’ Sheeran told the crowd. ‘The world is a scary place right now. America is a scary place right now. This gives hope. This gives hope.’

‘Thank you so much, Philadelphia. Thank you so much. I hope you have had fun.’

Sheeran then recognized that many families in attendance may not have expected the concert to turn toward the complexities of Middle East politics.

‘The one thing that I would like to apologize for is the first bit of the show where it wasn’t about music and I had to talk,’ he said.

‘I understand that people have children here and I understand that families didn’t buy a ticket to hear that first bit of the show, but that was something I felt like I needed to say.

‘I feel there was a lot of questions that I needed to answer. So to all the parents who brought their kids here tonight, thank you so much for bringing.’

The audience responded with applause as the singer appeared visibly overcome with emotion. 

He went on to reaffirm the message he has consistently associated with his concerts: bringing people together despite their differences.

‘My shows are about this,’ he said. ‘They are about people coming together that don’t know each other, that have different beliefs. They’re about unity. They’re about love. They’re about family.’

With fans cheering him on, Sheeran promised that the backlash would not deter him from continuing to perform.

‘You’re jumping around like maniacs with each other and having fun,’ he said. ‘And I will never stop doing this. I will never stop doing this. I love doing this so much.’

The emotional conclusion came several hours after Sheeran opened the show with an unusually candid reflection on the Israel-Gaza war, telling the audience: ‘I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.’  

His comments represented an awkward shift from his previous position that he did not want to use his platform for political statements.

Bowing to pressure as protestors swarmed outside the concert, Sheeran said he had made ‘mistakes’ and called the situation in Gaza ‘catastrophic and unjustifiable’.

The gig at the Lincoln Financial Field was the first time the star had returned to the stage since the rapper Macklemore was dropped as his opening act after taking a vocal stance in favor of a ‘Free Palestine’.

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In a solemn speech at the start of the concert Sheeran said: ‘I have tried in my career not to be a political commentator of any kind because I want my music and shows to be about unity and not division, about humanity and not politics. But this is a humanitarian issue and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.’

‘What happened in Israel at Nova music festival on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. 

‘What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate,’ Sheeran said in a video captured and shared online by a concertgoer. 

‘My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians’ lives, of children’s lives, and the systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked,’ he declared.

Sheeran told the audience that he plans to ‘continue my current tour’ despite each of his openers dropping out in solidarity with Macklemore. 

It came after Macklemore said Sheeran had spoken to Robert Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts through his holding company, the Kraft Group.

‘Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium. Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues,’ he wrote.

On Tuesday, Sheeran released his own statement on Instagram, saying it wasn’t his decision to remove Macklemore from the tour, but rather the promoter’s.

‘I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living,’ the British singer-songwriter added.

Sheeran said in the lengthy statement that he has ‘personal views on this devastating conflict,’ but made the choice ‘not to speak publicly.’ 

He has faced criticism from other artists, including Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, who bashed him on social media for not taking a stand against the decision.

Billie Eilish’s brother, Finneas, pulled out of his scheduled appearances in upcoming tour dates, stating that ‘artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.’

Tour openers including Aaron Rowe and the band Lukas Graham, along with Sheeran’s long-time backing folk band Beoga, also withdrew from the endeavor.

In his address to fans on Saturday, Sheeran stated, ‘I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so, so sorry.’

He said, ‘I don’t want to disappoint fans and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician. But this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech in the most complex political issue on the planet.’

The pop star continued, ‘Our concerts have always been a safe space for everyone, and that matters hugely to me. Honoring my commitment to my fans is also completely central to who I am and that is why I’m here tonight, on my own, and continuing my own tour.’

He went on to say, ‘I am deeply worried about the idea that venues’ pre-approved content performance. This happens in so many places that I’ve gone around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.’

Joey Logano controlled the closing seven laps Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, taking the lead from Carson Hocevar and holding on for victory. Yet Hocevar, who finished third, became the center of attention after a postrace confrontation with Ryan Blaney.

Hocevar, a 23-year-old known for an aggressive style that has frustrated several NASCAR veterans, exchanged punches with Blaney in the pits. The incident followed their battle for second place with 41 laps remaining.

After completing the race in third, Hocevar stopped his car. Blaney approached and shoved him.

Hocevar, who is 6 feet 4 inches tall and several inches taller than Blaney, answered with two overhand punches.

The first punch knocked Blaney’s hat off, while the second struck him on the left side of his face.

Blaney fell onto the pavement, then got back up and broke free from a crew member who was trying to restrain him. Hocevar raised his arms and pointed toward Blaney.

Blaney rushed toward Hocevar and swung a wild left hand, knocking Hocevar’s hat to the ground.

Team members quickly separated the two drivers as Blaney continued shouting at Hocevar.

“There wasn’t a whole lot of talking,” Hocevar said. “He just kind of said one thing and then went after me, and I wasn’t going to take it. I got ran into a lot for the win. That was for second and he wants to come fight. They got an old-school Bristol show here.”

The on-track dispute began soon after Blaney moved into second with an outside pass on Hocevar. Hocevar immediately drove his No. 77 Chevrolet toward the lower portion of the track.

Blaney moved down to block, but Hocevar kept his foot on the accelerator. The contact sent Blaney’s No. 12 Ford into a spin and eventually into the inside wall.

“I don’t know what I did wrong there,” Hocevar said. “I crossed him over and looked like he spun himself, and then he wants to instigate a fight, so I was going to finish that, and it seemed like the crowd was pretty pumped up, so I was going to play the audience for a second.”

Speaking during the race, Blaney said, “I tried to protect the bottom, he crossed and never lifted, and I got crashed.”

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Asked who was responsible for the incident, Blaney replied, “I don’t (expletive) know. Each person is going to say they did nothing wrong.”

Logano began the race from the pole and led 93 laps, moving into third in the points standings with the victory.

Kyle Larson finished second and took a one-point lead over Denny Hamlin in the Chase standings.

Christopher Bell placed fourth, with Ty Gibbs finishing fifth after leading 120 laps.

Gibbs drove the No. 54 Toyota in a paint scheme honoring the late Kyle Busch, who holds the record with 23 NASCAR national-series victories at Bristol.

The car was one of several tributes to the Richard Childress Racing driver, who died in May.

On the 18th lap, fans waved yellow towels in memory of Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion who won both titles driving the No. 18 Toyota.

His widow, Samantha, addressed the crowd before the race.

“Bristol was always so special to Kyle,” Samantha Busch said. “He loved racing under the lights, the energy of this place, and most of all, the fans. For 20 years, this sport was our life. It’s where we raised our babies and made some of our very best memories. I never imagined we’d be standing here without him. But looking out at all of you reminds me that we aren’t walking this alone.”

Legal battle continues

In its federal lawsuit that accuses Spire Motorsports of cheating by using stolen intellectual property, Joe Gibbs Racing filed a motion Thursday claiming that Spire and chief motorsports officer Chris Gabehart violated a temporary restraining order and should be held in contempt.

A federal judge ruled in March that Gabehart can work for Spire but not in the competition director role he was in while with Joe Gibbs Racing last season.

Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson responded to the motion in a statement Friday night. “JGR does not get to control what other race teams do through court cases,” Dickerson said. “JGR does not own tire pressures, JGR does not own the people who work in this industry, and JGR does not own Spire. Spire looks forward to responding to JGR’s motion in court. To be clear, months of discovery have shown that Spire Motorsports has done nothing wrong.”

Up next

The NASCAR Cup Series will begin a stretch of three consecutive races on 1.5-mile ovals with Kansas Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 27. Tyler Reddick won the April 19 race at the track in Kansas City, Kansas.

Costco has unveiled a Halloween treat that is frightening shoppers for two reasons: its enormous calorie count and its surprisingly steep price.

The warehouse retailer is offering a 5.5-pound Monster Mash Chocolate Head from Ten Acre Gifts. The Frankenstein-inspired chocolate is packed with 64 gummy candies molded into eerie body parts.

According to the serving information, the chocolate shell contains about 10,650 calories—based on 71 servings at 150 calories apiece. The gummy candy contributes approximately 1,600 more, taking the complete Halloween confection to an estimated 12,250 calories.

The sugar total is equally staggering at roughly 1,591 grams. Chocolate accounts for 1,207 grams, while the gummies add 384 grams. The price for this oversized seasonal centerpiece is listed at $54.99.

Even with the cost and nutritional numbers, finding the limited-edition Costco Halloween candy has become a challenge. Shoppers have been phoning warehouses, searching Instacart and checking resale platforms in hopes of tracking one down.

One Reddit user said they had contacted Costco locations across a wide area but came up empty-handed. Another reported that an Instacart purchase was canceled and refunded after the store could not locate the product.

Some shoppers have recommended giving Costco the item number 2056395 when calling, noting that the product may not be cataloged under “Frankenstein.” Others said certain warehouses had not received their deliveries yet.

The limited supply has also driven interest in price comparisons. One Facebook user said they paid $49.99 at a Costco in Fort Worth, Texas, while online listings have reportedly topped $60 and reached as high as $100 on eBay.

For customers still searching, the lack of availability has become a source of frustration. “Can’t find in SoCal,” one Facebook commenter wrote.

Another shopper said they had visited Costco that day without seeing it. A different commenter claimed their local warehouse had skipped Halloween merchandise entirely and begun displaying Christmas items instead.

The giant sweet weighs approximately 5.5 pounds, with most of that weight coming from the thick chocolate exterior and more than a pound of gummy candy concealed inside.

Getting to the candy is part of the spectacle. Rather than simply unwrapping the treat, buyers receive a mallet to crack open the chocolate monster’s head.

The green-and-brown figure is made with 100 percent Belgian chocolate and styled after Frankenstein’s monster, featuring recognizable bolts, stitches and a dramatic molded design.

A 28-gram serving of the chocolate contains 150 calories, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 17 grams of sugar, 8 grams of fat and 5 grams of saturated fat. Each serving of gummies adds 25 calories and 6 grams of sugar.

The unusual Costco Halloween treat has quickly attracted attention online, sparking debate over whether it is an entertaining seasonal splurge or simply an expensive novelty.

Some shoppers were unimpressed by the idea. One Facebook commenter summed up their view by writing: “Frankenstein mold. Coat with chocolate add a bag of candy. $15.”

Others embraced the over-the-top design, with one person saying they would purchase the chocolate head mainly to display it as a Halloween decoration.

Another shopper initially thought the product was a plastic decoration, while someone else said: ‘Only worth it if it is solid.’

On X, one person joked: ‘Costco looked at Halloween and said, ‘What if a piñata… but medically concerning?’

Another declared: ‘This is now a priority need in my life…’

Someone else summed up the bizarre appeal by writing: ‘Imagine explaining to someone that your Halloween candy comes with its own demolition tool.’

The mallet has become one of the biggest talking points, with another shopper joking: ‘A hammer for Halloween candy is insane.’

And while some shoppers are focused on smashing and eating the thing, others are questioning whether anyone really needs a five-pound chocolate head in their kitchen.

For those willing to pay the price, however, Costco is offering a Halloween party centerpiece, a mountain of candy and a demolition project rolled into one – just don’t expect this monster to be remotely fun-size.

Pete DeBoer’s 13-day sprint gives the Islanders’ coach little time to transform his first training camp into the kind of boot camp seen in years past.

The relatively new coach, who took over behind the bench for the final four games of 2025-26, cannot rely on the punishing sprints and conditioning drills that once defined Islanders training camps.

After three days of camp, with the preseason opener set for Sunday afternoon in Newark, DeBoer has emphasized systems and structure. Friday’s scrimmage provided the first real opportunity for the players to tap into their competitive instincts.

The condensed schedule has made that approach necessary. More importantly, the limited time has stripped away anything nonessential and forced the coaching staff to identify its most important priorities.

So what tops DeBoer’s list?

“We prioritize trying to get our structure in defensively,” DeBoer said earlier this week. “That’s where most of the bleeding with this group, in my mind, happened last year.”

The Islanders’ defensive struggles last season need little explanation. Their numbers in their own zone were disastrous, and that breakdown was arguably the biggest reason they fell out of the playoff race.

DeBoer adjusted what he could on the fly late in the season, but there was only so much he could change after 78 games had already been played.

Training camp is his chance to tear out the old foundation and build something new from the ground up.

Mathew Barzal’s absence from camp highlights another reality the Islanders are likely to face throughout the season.

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Although the roster is hardly short on talent, it does not possess the offensive firepower carried by most playoff teams.

The more often the Islanders are forced to win 4-3, the fewer victories they are likely to collect.

“We’re latching onto box-outs, just taking care of the middle of the ice,” Brayden Schenn told The Post. “We didn’t do a good enough job of that last year. Numbers showed that. When you collapse in the middle and take away the dangerous parts of the ice, you give yourselves and your goalies the chance to stop pucks.”

The Islanders are also installing changes to their breakouts and neutral-zone play, while the effort to reshape the power play began Saturday.

With so little time available, the Islanders must absorb DeBoer’s new concepts quickly. Much of that responsibility falls on the coach to teach them clearly and efficiently.

“Detail with how everyone goes. It’s pretty black and white,” Schenn said, explaining DeBoer’s coaching style. “What we need to do, what the system’s like, what he’s looking for. Whether that’s breakouts, D-zone, neutral zone. He doesn’t have a million ideas. He has the right ideas.”

“It makes everybody’s life a lot easier,” Bo Horvat told The Post. “You’re not thinking about 1,000 things or what you have to do out there.”

Unlike the previous two coaches to pass through New York, DeBoer has already established himself as a proven NHL coach. His record is a major reason to believe the Islanders could surprise this season: the last time he missed the playoffs in his first full season with a team was 2008-09, when he was a rookie head coach.

It has been an alarmingly long time since Barry Trotz guided a team widely considered short on talent into contention. DeBoer may be asked to pull off something similar.

“I think [he’s] just really installing an identity for our team to be a fast-paced team,” Cal Ritchie told The Post. “Move the puck quick, move our feet quick, get up and down the ice quick. That’s how you’re gonna generate offense in this league: beat teams quickly and not let them get in position, cause when teams get in position, you’re not really gonna beat their structure. Just trying to play quick, play smart, detailed hockey.”