Ed Sheeran's Gillette concerts canceled over weather drama
Ed Sheeran's Friday and Saturday concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, have been canceled after organizers cited hazardous weather warnings across New England. The cancellations land amid ongoing controversy after Robert Kraft moved to bar opener Macklemore from the U.S. tour over his onstage support of Palestine.
Key Takeaways
- Gillette Stadium canceled Ed Sheeran's weekend concerts citing hazardous weather and fan-and-staff safety.
- Ticket refunds are available, according to the Robert Kraft-owned venue.
- The shows were already under scrutiny after Kraft moved to bar Macklemore from performing.
- Sheeran's other opening acts and backing band had resigned in solidarity with Macklemore.
- A broader East Coast nor'easter also forced cancellations of other major music events.
Why were Ed Sheeran's Gillette Stadium concerts canceled?
Event organizers canceled the Friday and Saturday night shows after consulting local officials, the promoter, and the tour, citing hazardous weather warnings for Boston and across New England, CNN reported.
Tour promoter Messina Touring said the decision put the safety of fans, staff, and everyone involved first. The Robert Kraft-owned venue said ticket refunds are available. For more entertainment alerts like this, follow Streaming & TV Alerts on BlasterPost.
How did the Macklemore drama shape the tour before the weather?
The cancellations arrived while Sheeran's U.S. tour was already under fire. Early last week, Macklemore said on Instagram he had been dropped from Sheeran's remaining U.S. dates and blamed Kraft, saying the Patriots owner had rallied other stadium owners and given Sheeran an ultimatum: keep Macklemore and lose venue access.
Kraft acknowledged plans to bar Macklemore from Gillette Stadium, citing the rapper's recent actions, material shared onstage during Sheeran's New Jersey shows, and what Kraft called a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery. Macklemore had made pro-Palestinian comments from the stage, including "Free Palestine" remarks that sparked backlash.
Sheeran's other opening acts and backing band then resigned in solidarity with Macklemore. At his Philadelphia show last Saturday, Sheeran opened with an apology for his "mistakes" and delivered a nearly four-minute speech, saying he never wanted to be an activist musician, still wants to honor fans, and can see both sides of a complex issue while no longer hiding how he feels about the humanitarian crisis.
What are fans saying about politics at concerts?
Outside the Philadelphia date, several concertgoers told Fox News Digital that artists who push political views risk alienating half their audience. One fan said forcing Sheeran to take a side was wrong and that people come to concerts to escape unrest. Others said musicians have a right to speak—and fans have a right to listen or walk away—while some preferred shows as a politics-free space.
The same severe early-season nor'easter disrupting New England also led organizers to cancel Maryland's Oceans Calling festival, New York's Global Citizen Festival in Central Park (its first cancellation in 14 years), and the All Things Go Festival in Forest Hills, New York.
Bottom line: weather grounded Sheeran's Gillette Stadium concerts, but the Macklemore dispute already defined the week—and fans are still debating how political stages should be.