Ed Sheeran’s performances at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts have been called off due to severe weather alerts, adding to the ongoing controversies surrounding his tour after the removal of Macklemore for making pro-Palestinian statements on stage.
The decision to cancel the concerts at Kraft’s Gillette Stadium on Friday and Saturday was made in consideration of the impending storm with wind gusts of up to 64 kilometers per hour in Foxborough, near Boston. Messina Touring, Ed Sheeran’s touring team, announced the cancellations after consulting with local authorities and citing the weather warnings in the region.
Ticket refunds for the cancelled shows will be processed through the original point of purchase, according to the touring group. The cancellation follows Macklemore’s announcement of his own tour supporting Palestinians, criticizing the influence of “the billionaire class” in controlling who gets a platform to speak.
Before being removed from the tour, Macklemore had performed at two shows in early September in New Jersey as part of Sheeran’s Loop Tour, where he voiced support for Palestinians. The decision to drop Macklemore was attributed to venue and promoter discretion, with Ed Sheeran clarifying that the removal was not a reflection of his personal stance on the issue.
Fans seeking refunds for the affected shows were assured by the state’s attorney general that they would be accommodated, especially in light of significant lineup changes. The controversy surrounding the tour has led to declining ticket prices and calls for boycotts from pro-Palestinian protesters outside venues.
