Ed Sheeran’s two scheduled concerts this weekend at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts were cancelled due to severe weather warnings, adding to ongoing difficulties faced during his US Loop tour. The decision to call off the shows, set for Saturday and Sunday, was confirmed by the tour promoter Messina Touring, which cited fan and staff safety as the primary concern amid approaching storms in the Boston and New England area. Ticket holders are to receive refunds.
The cancellations come amid a broader controversy surrounding Sheeran’s tour, which has been marred by the removal of supporting artist Macklemore following his public pro-Palestine statements. According to reports, Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of Gillette Stadium, reportedly pressed for Macklemore’s removal from the lineup, leading to widespread upheaval among Sheeran’s supporting acts, many of whom subsequently quit the tour.
Sheeran has publicly addressed the fallout, expressing emotional distress during a recent Philadelphia concert where he broke down onstage. He remarked that the situation had left him feeling abandoned by friends and family and apologised to fans for what he described as mistakes in handling the circumstances surrounding Macklemore’s departure.
The controversy has also extended to Sheeran’s personal life. His cousin and rapper, Jethro Sheeran, known professionally as Alonestar, has criticized Ed publicly. Jethro labeled him a “coward” for not supporting the pro-Palestine sentiments of the opening act and expressed embarrassment over an old photograph of the two together.
The situation highlights the complexities faced by artists navigating political expression and commercial considerations amid international conflicts. While the storm warnings provided an immediate and concrete reason for the concert cancellations, the broader context of the tour’s challenges remains a significant factor shaping public and industry response.
As it stands, Sheeran’s US Loop tour continues to confront disruption caused both by weather and internal disputes, with the next scheduled events pending and no additional cancellations announced at this time.