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Sheeran Cancels Massachusetts Shows Amid Storm

4:03 AM ETConfirmed

Entertainment Desk

In Short: The venue announced that the shows were canceled in anticipation of a major storm expected to bring heavy rainfall to the area.

Ed Sheeran's concerts scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts have been canceled due to severe weather warnings.

The venue announced that the shows were canceled in anticipation of a major storm expected to bring heavy rainfall to the area.

Gillette Stadium, owned by pro-Israel billionaire Robert Kraft, was at the center of controversy earlier this month when Sheeran's opening act, rapper Macklemore, was dropped from the tour.

Sheeran addressed the situation last weekend, telling fans he had to make difficult decisions and was sorry for any mistakes.

Ticket prices for Sheeran's concerts have fallen by more than 10 percent in recent days, according to TicketData.

Ticketholders who purchased through Ticketmaster will be automatically refunded.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• “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 in a statement on Friday.

What's still developing

• Amid public outcry, many artists scheduled to play with Sheeran on the tour announced they would drop out in solidarity with Macklemore.
• Kraft played a key role in the expulsion earlier this month of the rapper Macklemore, Sheeran’s opening act for his US leg of the concert and an outspoken critic of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
• The decision came after the rapper made on-stage comments at earlier concerts including calling for "free Palestine" and referring to "genocide" in Gaza, as well as showing images of Gaza.
• The promoter said venue owners including Kraft would have refused to let the concerts take place if Macklemore was on the bill.
• The tour has been in the headlines because of a row over a decision to drop Sheeran's support act Macklemore for making pro-Palestinian comments on stage.
• Macklemore's removal from the tour led Sheeran's other support and backing artists to pull out in protest, and sparked a heated debate over free speech and the role of politics in music.
• Sheeran had been due to play back‑to‑back nights at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough from tonight (25.09.26) as part of his US leg of the Loop tour.
• Ed Sheeran cancels concerts amid 'Free Palestine' row The Shape Of You hitmaker has attracted criticism after his support act was dropped from the Loop live shows when he declared his support for the people of Palestine, with Ed insisting that his decision to axe Macklemore wasn’t his.
• The concerts will bring Macklemore together with special guests and raise money for organisations providing humanitarian assistance and other support for Palestinians.
• Sheeran was set to perform at the Foxborough, Massachusetts, venue on Sept. 25 and 26, but according to a statement shared on social media, potentially dangerous weather conditions have forced the singer to step back.
• After Macklemore used his slot at Sheeran's MetLife Stadium shows to express his support for Palestinians, many people were upset, including owners of stadiums where Sheeran was slated to play.
• Despite the promoter saying severe weather forced the cancellation of Sheeran's Gillette Stadium shows, several people shared other theories on social media.

Sources

• Al Jazeeralink
• BBClink
• Contactmusic.comlink
• Female Firstlink
• Fox Newslink
• The Independentlink
• The Music Universelink
• WGBHlink
• abcnews.comlink
• Metrolink
• The Hollywood Reporterlink
• Justjaredlink
• Faroutmagazinelink
• Ianslivelink
• RTE.ielink
• WarpBeat — background on Ed Sheeran's US Concerts Canceled Due to Storm link
• Aaron Parnas — video link