Ed Sheeran has canceled his back-to-back stadium concerts scheduled at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, as a severe nor’easter storm bears down on New England. According to TMZ, Friday and Saturday shows at the home of Robert Kraft’s New England Patriots were officially scrapped due to bad weather.
Stage construction for the concerts had already been halted on Thursday amid the looming weather threat, as reported by TMZ. Fox Weather projected that Foxborough would receive between 1 and 2 inches of rain alongside wind gusts reaching up to 40 miles per hour.
Gillette Stadium Safety Decisions and Ticket Refunds
A representative for Robert Kraft confirmed the cancellations in a statement to TMZ, noting that venue management, tour organizers, and public safety officials monitored forecasts throughout the week.
The tour promoter, AEG Presents, partnered with Messina Touring Group to confirm to The Daily Mail that the concerts were axed due to the severe storm. Ticketholders who purchased through Ticketmaster will receive automatic refunds, while other buyers can secure refunds at their original point of purchase.
Tour Drama Precedes Weather Cancellations
The weather shutdown arrives amid ongoing controversy surrounding the tour. Earlier this month at MetLife Stadium, opening act Macklemore wore a keffiyeh, performed "Hind’s Hall" with Gaza footage on screens, called Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a "terrorist organization," and shouted "Free Palestine, free Cuba, Congo, Sudan and Iran."
According to TMZ and reporting cited by Reality Tea, Robert Kraft was instrumental in getting Macklemore dropped from the remaining tour dates after the rapper faced backlash from the Israeli-American Council and apparently ignored warnings to stop.
The dismissal triggered widespread fallout. All of Sheeran’s other supporting acts—Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe—along with his backing band, Beoga, left the tour in solidarity, forcing Sheeran to perform alone last weekend in Philadelphia, as noted by TMZ and the Daily Mail.
Political Backlash and Planned Protests
The cancellation also follows an announcement from Massachusetts Peace Action, an advocacy group focused on ending the Israel-Palestine conflict, which had planned a protest outside Saturday’s Gillette Stadium concert.
One day prior to the weather cancellation, Macklemore announced a "Free Palestine Tour" and criticized both Sheeran and Kraft. Meanwhile, Sheeran addressed the controversy last Saturday during his Philadelphia show at Lincoln Financial Field, telling the audience he never wanted to be an activist musician but found himself caught in a complex political debate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Ed Sheeran’s Gillette Stadium concerts canceled? The shows were canceled due to a severe nor’easter storm bringing heavy rain and 40 mph wind gusts to Foxborough, Massachusetts, with safety prioritized for all fans and staff.
How do ticketholders get refunds? Refunds are available at the original point of purchase, and Ticketmaster customers receive automatic refunds according to stadium representatives.
Who made the decision to cancel the shows? Stadium and tour management made the decision in consultation with public safety officials as the severe weather forecast materialized over the weekend.
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