Ed Sheeran has pulled the plug on his two scheduled concerts at Gillette Stadium near Boston this weekend, citing an incoming nor'easter that forecasters say could bring damaging winds and heavy rain to New England.
The cancellation, announced Friday by tour promoter Messina Touring, comes just days after the pop superstar found himself at the center of a political firestorm over the removal of opening act Macklemore, who had voiced support for the pro-Palestinian movement during a recent show.
In a statement posted to Instagram, Messina Touring said the decision to scrap Friday and Saturday night's performances was made in consultation with local officials and with the safety of fans, staff, and crew as the top priority. The region is under a wind advisory through Sunday morning, with gusts potentially reaching 50 mph, and officials are bracing for power outages and flight disruptions.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey urged residents to take precautions, saying in a statement that the state is coordinating with local and federal partners and that residents should be ready for possible flooding and outages.
The weather-related cancellations add another layer of turmoil to a tour that has already been roiled by controversy. Macklemore was dropped from the lineup after Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft, who also owns the New England Patriots, objected to the rapper's comments about Israel and Gaza. Kraft called the remarks antisemitic and said the stadium has a commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests.
Macklemore has denied the antisemitism charge, arguing that criticism of Israel and support for Palestinian rights should not be conflated with hatred of Jewish people. He said his words were aimed at Israeli government policy, not at Jews as a group.
The fallout has been severe for Sheeran. At least four other opening acts pulled out in protest, and the singer has reportedly lost nearly half a million Instagram followers. Sheeran has apologized to fans at concerts and acknowledged that the debate has cost him close personal relationships. He has also faced pressure from both sides of the issue, with some praising his decision to distance himself from Macklemore and others accusing him of capitulating to political pressure.
Meanwhile, Macklemore has launched a Free Palestine tour of his own, and he and Sheeran have publicly pressed Kraft to match donations to Gaza aid. The episode has become a flashpoint in the broader cultural and political battle over the Israel-Hamas war, with artists and venues increasingly caught in the crossfire.
For ticketholders, Messina Touring said refunds will be issued in full. The promoter did not announce rescheduled dates, leaving fans of the British singer disappointed and uncertain about future shows.
The cancellation is a reminder that even the biggest tours are vulnerable to both nature and politics, and that the fallout from the Gaza conflict continues to reverberate through the entertainment industry.
