Both of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour concerts at Robert Kraft’s Gillette Stadium have been called off due to a forecast nor’easter, a decision that comes just days after the singer addressed the Gaza conflict following the controversial removal of Macklemore from his tour.
Ed Sheeran’s two scheduled concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, have been cancelled due to severe weather conditions. The singer had been due to perform on Friday and Saturday night as part of his Loop Tour, with the shows called off following consultation with local officials over weather warnings expected to affect the region this weekend. The cancellation comes at a difficult moment for Sheeran, whose tour has already been overshadowed by controversy following the removal of rapper Macklemore from his remaining dates at the stadium.
Nor’easter forces cancellation of both shows
Both performances, scheduled for 25 and 26 September, were called off after a major nor’easter was forecast to hit New England over the weekend. According to reports, the severe weather created problems not only for concertgoers but also for the partially constructed stage at the venue, with production work reportedly paused as conditions worsened. Sheeran had been due to take to the stage at 8pm on Friday, with a second show following on Saturday night; rather than postponing a single performance, both concerts have now been scrapped entirely. Ticket holders are expected to receive refunds through their original point of purchase.
There is currently no indication that the weather-related cancellation is connected to the separate controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from the tour.
Macklemore dispute continues to cast a shadow
The cancellation lands at an awkward time for Sheeran, given the ongoing fallout from Macklemore’s exit from the Loop Tour. Macklemore had been scheduled to perform at Gillette Stadium but was dropped from the remaining dates after performing pro-Palestinian material and saying “Free Palestine” during earlier shows on the tour. Macklemore has alleged that Robert Kraft, the owner of Gillette Stadium, pressured Sheeran’s team over his continued involvement in the tour. Sheeran has since said the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour’s promoter, and that he had attempted to mediate with venues on the issue.
The dispute prompted several supporting acts to withdraw from the tour in solidarity, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Beoga and Aaron Rowe. Before the weather-related cancellation, some fans had also reported difficulty reselling tickets for the Gillette shows amid the controversy, particularly those who had purchased tickets specifically to see Macklemore perform as the opening act.
Sheeran addresses Gaza during Philadelphia show
The controversy took on further significance after Sheeran addressed the situation directly during a concert in Philadelphia on 19 September. He described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic, unjustifiable and disproportionate,” and spoke about the humanitarian impact of the conflict. He also expressed regret over how the dispute involving Macklemore had unfolded, and reflected more broadly on the ability of artists to express political views through their work.
Donations pledged by both camps
In the wake of the controversy, Macklemore said he would donate $1 million from his tour earnings to Palestinian humanitarian organisations. Robert Kraft and Sheeran later each announced $2 million donations toward humanitarian causes in the region, though the specific arrangements and intended recipients of these donations differ from Macklemore’s pledge.
