Ed Sheeran’s scheduled performances at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts have been called off due to severe weather alerts, marking another setback for a tour that has faced controversy following the removal of opening act Macklemore over pro-Palestinian remarks.
Earlier in the tour’s U.S. leg, Macklemore was removed from the lineup after stadium owners, including billionaire Robert Kraft, threatened to cancel Sheeran’s shows if Macklemore continued with his pro-Palestinian stance. This led to a series of withdrawals from other opening acts in support. As a result, Sheeran’s upcoming shows at Kraft’s Gillette Stadium on Friday and Saturday have been canceled due to forecasts of a storm with wind gusts of up to 64 kilometers per hour in Foxborough, near Boston.
In an announcement on Instagram, Messina Touring, Sheeran’s touring group, stated that the decision to cancel the concerts was made in consultation with local authorities and based on the severe weather warnings in the region. They assured that all tickets would be refunded through the original point of purchase.
The cancellation coincides with Macklemore’s announcement of a new tour supporting Palestinians, where he criticized the influence of the “billionaire class” on determining who gets to voice their opinions on stage. This move comes after independent reports from the UN and Amnesty International alleging genocidal actions by Israel against Palestinians, a claim vehemently denied by the country.
Before being dropped from the tour, Macklemore had performed two shows at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, where he vocally expressed solidarity with Palestinians. Kraft, a key figure behind Macklemore’s removal, cited concerns over the rapper’s history of controversial statements and behaviors, including a past incident involving an allegedly antisemitic costume.
With the tour facing ongoing controversies and lineup changes, fans have been seeking refunds, with the state’s attorney general guaranteeing consumer refunds in light of the alterations. Ticketmaster, usually not offering refunds for lineup changes, made an exception for the affected shows following intervention from the attorney general’s office.
Sheeran, in response to the unfolding events, expressed his dismay at the conflict but defended his decision to remain apolitical amid the turmoil, emphasizing the role of venues and promoters in determining the tour’s lineup.
