Ed Sheeran Cancels Gillette Stadium Shows Amid Nor’easter

FOXBOROUGH: (Showbiz Desk) – Ed Sheeran’s scheduled concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough have been canceled as a powerful nor’easter is expected to bring severe weather across Boston and other parts of New England.

The concerts had been scheduled for Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Tour promoter Messina Touring said the decision was made after consultation with local officials, with the safety of fans, staff and everyone involved in the events given priority.

The storm is expected to produce damaging winds, particularly in coastal areas. Wind gusts around Foxborough could reach 40 to 55 mph, with the strongest winds forecast from Friday night through Saturday night.

Television footage from WBZ-TV showed crews dismantling the concert stage at Gillette Stadium on Friday morning.

The cancellations come amid controversy surrounding Sheeran’s “Loop” tour and changes to its supporting lineup. Rapper Macklemore, who had been scheduled to open both shows, was removed from the tour after making a “Free Palestine” statement during a concert in New Jersey earlier this month.

Other supporting performers also left the tour in protest.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who also owns Gillette Stadium, had previously spoken with Sheeran and said Macklemore would not be allowed to perform because of what Kraft described as the rapper’s broader history of antisemitic rhetoric.

Sheeran performed in Philadelphia last weekend without opening acts. During the show, he described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable”, while saying he wanted his concerts to focus on humanity rather than politics.

Ticket prices for the Gillette Stadium concerts had reportedly declined before the shows were canceled. Ticketmaster began making refunds available after Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell sent a demand letter to the company.

The tour promoter said customers would receive refunds through their original point of purchase, while those who purchased tickets through Ticketmaster would be refunded automatically.

Sheeran’s next scheduled performance is in Atlanta on October 3.