Nor’easter cancels Ed Sheeran’s weekend shows at Gillette Stadium, the venue at the center of his Macklemore tour fallout

Ed Sheeran’s weekend concerts at Gillette Stadium have been officially canceled due to dangerous weather conditions. This news comes as a major disruption for fans, especially as the tour has already been dealing with significant internal turmoil involving the removal of Sheeran’s support artist, Macklemore.

According to CNN, the Robert Kraft-owned venue confirmed the cancellations on Friday. The decision was made following consultation with local officials, the promoter, and the tour itself. Hazardous weather warnings were issued for Boston and across New England for the entire weekend. Messina Touring, which handles Sheeran’s tour, noted on Instagram, “The decision was made with the safety of fans, staff and everyone involved in the shows as the top priority.”

NBC News noted that this cancellation follows a heated controversy regarding free speech and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Earlier this month, rapper Macklemore was removed from the tour’s remaining US dates after he voiced support for the Palestinian people during shows in New Jersey. Macklemore alleged that he was dropped at the behest of Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, and Gillette Stadium. 

How the Macklemore dispute unfolded

According to CNN, the rapper claimed that Kraft had rallied other stadium owners and effectively gave Sheeran an ultimatum, stating, “If Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.” Per the outlet, Kraft later acknowledged his intention to keep Macklemore from performing at Gillette Stadium. 

CNN noted that Kraft’s statement cited Macklemore’s “recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.” NBC further noted that in a statement, Kraft mentioned that he did not intend to stifle Palestinian support but wanted to ensure a welcoming environment at the stadium. Borth, Macklemore and Sheeran asked Kraft to donate to Palestinian aid.

According to NBC, in the wake of Macklemore’s removal, several of Sheeran’s other opening acts withdrew from the tour in protest. This included Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, Finneas, and the house band Beoga. 

Sheeran reportedly addressed the situation at a concert in Philadelphia. He told the audience, “I never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about free speech and the most complex political issue on the planet.” He also started the show with an apology for his “mistakes” regarding the situation. Macklemore has since moved forward by announcing a Free Palestine Tour scheduled for this fall.

The weather event causing these cancellations is a powerful nor’easter currently moving up the East Coast. According to The Weather Channel, this storm is expected to impact states ranging from Virginia all the way to Rhode Island. Coastal flood alerts are currently in effect for approximately 33 million people, and wind gusts are projected to reach up to 60 mph in various coastal locations throughout Saturday.

Sheeran’s shows are far from the only major events hit by this storm. CNN reported that the Global Citizen Festival, which was set to take place in New York’s Central Park on Saturday, was also canceled. The organization noted that this is the first time the festival has been canceled in 14 years. 

In a statement posted to social media, they reportedly said, “Due to the extreme weather forecast for New York City this weekend, we have made the difficult decision, in consultation with the City of New York and NYC Parks, to cancel this year’s Global Citizen Festival.” They emphasized that safety has to come first.

CNN noted that The All Things Go Festival, which was slated to run from Friday through Sunday at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, has also been scrapped. According to NBC, a Friday night concert by the rock band AC/DC at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was postponed just hours before the gates were set to open. 

The outlet also noted that organizers of the Oceans Calling festival in Ocean City, Maryland, had to pull the plug, as high winds, tides, and flooding prevented them from setting up the three-day event. Both CNN and NBC reported that refunds will be available for Sheeran’s concert, with NBC specifically noting that Ticketmaster tickets will be automatically refunded.