But he explained the poignant connection he’s felt to Sheeran’s music that has drawn him to Saturday’s show.

The singer’s hit Thinking Out Loud was the first dance at Given’s wedding.

“When she danced,” Given, 52, said, recalling the moment with his bride, “the first words of the song were, ‘When your legs don’t work like they used to before.'”

His wife, Kellie, had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and could barely walk. She died four years later, in 2024.

Given said if it wasn’t for “that connection, I would absolutely” not be attending, but “I’m probably leaning towards going”.

Fellow fan Patti Ann has felt less conflicted over the backlash and instead said Sheeran was in a “no-win situation”.

“I back [Sheeran] 100% for his decision,” she said. “I feel like he has an obligation and a contract with his venues, and sometimes, financially, you can’t get out of those types of things.”

Ann, who has been a Sheeran fan for years, said she thinks a concert venue is not the place for politics.

Believe what you want, she said, “just don’t press it on me”.

She still plans to attend his show in Atlanta, Georgia, in October.