Ed Sheeran has cancelled his scheduled concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, due to severe weather warnings across Boston and New England.
The singer was due to perform at the stadium on Friday and Saturday as part of his ongoing US tour, but both shows have now been called off following concerns over high winds and potentially dangerous weather conditions.
In a statement, Gillette Stadium said the decision was made after consultation with local officials, the promoter and Sheeran’s touring team. “Due to the severe weather warnings in place in Boston and across New England throughout the weekend and following consultation with local officials, the promoter and tour have made the difficult decision to cancel the Ed Sheeran concerts at Gillette Stadium,” the venue said.
The stadium added that the safety of fans, staff and everyone involved with the concerts was the main priority.
Fans who purchased tickets will be eligible for refunds, with Ticketmaster customers set to receive automatic refunds.
Weather warnings for high winds are expected to remain in place across the region until the early hours of Sunday, while officials have also advised motorists to minimise travel.
The cancellations come amid a separate controversy surrounding Sheeran’s tour after rapper Macklemore was removed as a support act.
Macklemore had made pro-Palestinian comments during previous performances, including calls for a “free Palestine”, references to the war in Gaza as “genocide” and the display of images from Gaza during his shows.
Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, publicly criticised Macklemore’s comments and said the rapper would not be permitted to perform at the venue. Sheeran later clarified that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by his promoter rather than by him personally. The promoter said venue owners, including Kraft, would have refused to host the concerts if Macklemore remained on the bill.
The controversy also resulted in Sheeran’s other support and backing artists withdrawing from the tour in protest, sparking wider discussions about free speech, politics and the role of artists in live music. When Sheeran returned to the stage last weekend, he acknowledged the difficult circumstances surrounding the tour, telling fans that he had “to take and make difficult decisions” and admitting that he was making mistakes.
The Massachusetts shows will now not go ahead, with ticket refunds being processed for affected fans.
