Ed Sheeran has cancelled his 25 and 26 September concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, following severe weather warnings across Boston and New England.
According to Variety, forecasts of a nor’easter bringing heavy rain and strong winds led to the decision. Promoter Messina Touring said the safety of fans, staff and crew remained the “top priority”.
The cancellations come amid ongoing controversy surrounding rapper Macklemore’s removal from Sheeran’s US tour following his pro-Palestinian remarks. Gillette owner Robert Kraft said the venue would not provide a platform for “hate speech”, referring to Macklemore’s recent actions.
Sheeran later said the situation had left him “in the middle” of a debate over freedom of speech. During his Philadelphia concert, he became emotional while describing the period as “a weird week” and saying some people close to him had been “backing away”.
He called the Philadelphia performance “the best show of my life” and told the audience that the world and the US felt frightening, adding that the concert offered hope.
Sheeran had also removed the B-stage from his show over safety concerns after some of his opening acts, including his backing band, withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore.
