Key Points
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Ed Sheeran’s tour dates at the Robert Kraft-owned Gillette Stadium have been canceled.
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A severe nor’easter is headed to New England, and tour promoters decided to err on the side of caution.
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Sheeran is currently involved in a controversy after dropping Macklemore from his tour amid the rapper’s pro-Palestine remarks.
Turns out the weather had its own plans for Ed Sheeran‘s Loop tour, despite Robert Kraft’s demands.
After Gillette Stadium owner Kraft threatened to call off Sheeran’s Boston tour dates at his venue amid supporting act Macklemore‘s pro-Palestine comments, the concerts were canceled in light of the severe nor’easter making its way to New England.
Sheeran was scheduled to perform Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26, in Foxborough, Mass., before promoter Messina Touring Group announced the change of plans.
“Due to the severe weather warnings in place in Boston and across New England throughout the weekend and following consultation with local officials, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Ed Sheeran concerts at Gillette Stadium,” a statement read on Friday. “The decision was made with the safety of fans, staff and everyone involved in the shows as the top priority.”
Messina added that refunds would be available at the point of purchase, and ticket holders who purchased through Ticketmaster would be “automatically refunded.”
The canceled dates come at a tough time for Sheeran, who made the controversial decision to drop Macklemore from his tour amid pressures from venue owners. Kraft was one of said businessman who threatened to curb Sheeran’s tour after Macklemore made “Free Palestine” remarks on stage at MetLife Stadium earlier this month.
Sheeran announced his decision to drop the rapper on Sept. 14, with opening acts Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham, as well as Sheeran’s backing band, Beoga, and Finneas, who was set to join the “Shape of You” singer in November for several South American shows, also departing the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.
“I have spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution and unfortunately, was unable to do so,” Sheeran wrote in a lengthy statement on social media at the time. “I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.”
Sheeran added that his goal was to give his tour mate and longtime friend Macklemore a platform to say whatever he wanted. “I respect him as an artist,” Sheeran wrote. “As with all my support acts, I agree that they play a setlist of their choosing.”
He went on to say that talks with venue owners about Macklemore’s political comments were ultimately unproductive and that he unsuccessfully attempted to seek guidance.
“I was also involved in direct talks with promoters along with activists on both sides to try and find a mutual resolution for all, but the venue’s and promoter’s decision was final,” Sheeran wrote.
The singer-songwriter noted that he agreed to their decision for the fans, explaining, “I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.”
Macklemore, meanwhile, expressed disappointment that he and his friend ended “in a place of fundamental disagreement” after having “talks rooted in love and respect.”
In a statement on Instagram, Macklemore shared, “Ed told me that Robert Kraft called him. We were scheduled to play Gillette Stadium later this month, which is owned by the Kraft Group. Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium. Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.”
He added, “Ed was in a f—ed up position. He knew it. His apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before … but there is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed. When one side has the bombs and bottomless financial and military support from America, refusing to take a side doesn’t leave you in the middle.”
Macklemore noted that he hoped to continue a friendship with Sheeran and that their “painful disagreement” would open the door to “conversation.”
As for Kraft, the millionaire told Entertainment Weeklyin a statement that Gillette Stadium is committed to “ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech” and that Macklemore’s “participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line.”
“This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf,” Kraft’s statement continued. “Their pain and loss are real. But that advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas, a United States and globally (including Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, and Japan) designated terrorist organization whose horrific actions have caused immeasurable suffering for Palestinians and Israelis alike. I agree with Macklemore. Too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate.”
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Kraft claimed that “standing with the Palestinian people and standing against Hamas, antisemitism and hate should not be mutually exclusive.” He also offered to engage in a discussion with Macklemore to “discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same — peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate.”
“Much of my time and attention for the last decade has been focused on the fight against antisemitism and hate of all kinds, and I feel a responsibility to stand up when I believe that line has been crossed. I have tremendous respect for Ed and his music, particularly his unique ability to bring people together and spread joy, and I have always been proud to welcome him and his fans to Gillette Stadium,” Kraft concluded.
Macklemore recently announced his new gig, the three-date Free Palestine Tour, which will kick off next month. Artists and further dates will be announced soon. He also revealed plans to donate all proceeds from the shows, plus his entire $1 million in Loop tour earnings, to organizations supporting Palestinian relief efforts.
“If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years. There has been a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation, the power of billionaires that try to censor that call, and what we expect from artists right now,” Macklemore said in his tour announcement on Instagram on Thursday. “It’s 2026. Being apolitical during a genocide doesn’t work anymore. People are asking artists to show up, educate themselves and be in community. To use the stage for more than entertainment. To push back when the call for a Free Palestine is met with attempts to silence it.”
Kraft and Sheeran, for their part, have both vowed to donate $2 million to “aid the region.” Sheeran returned to the stage for his first show since the controversy began on Sept. 19 at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, where he openly wept while reflecting on the difficult past few weeks.
“This is not usually how I open a show, but before I play some songs tonight I hope it’s OK if I say a few words about this last week,” Sheeran told the crowd as he took the stage solo. “I’m used to my music being criticized, and I’m always happy to take that because I’m lucky a lot of you like my stuff… But this week the criticism was about something much more important. And I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so sorry.”
He added that while he didn’t want to “disappoint fans,” the situation has “put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet.”
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
