Ed Sheeran’s concerts scheduled for this weekend at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts have been canceled due to severe weather, amid wider turmoil surrounding the British pop star’s tour.
The concerts scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the New England Patriots home stadium were scrapped because of the upcoming nor’easter, Messina Touring, Sheeran’s touring group, said in an Instagram statement.
“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,” the statement said. “The decision was made with the safety of fans, staff and everyone involved in the shows as the top priority.”
The touring group said that refunds are available and that ticket holders who purchased through Ticketmaster will be automatically refunded.
The announcement comes amid a wider scandal for Sheeran’s “Loop” tour since one of its opening acts was forced out for voicing pro-Palestinian views.
Earlier this month, rapper Macklemore said he was removed from Sheeran’s tour after speaking out in support for the Palestinian people at the tour’s shows in New Jersey. Macklemore said he was removed at the behest of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and alleged that Kraft organized a boycott among stadium owners.
Kraft did not immediately return a request for comment. In a previous statement he said he did not intend to stifle Palestinian support but to ensure a “welcoming environment” at Gillette Stadium.
Macklemore’s removal prompted Sheeran’s other opening acts — Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, Finneas and his house band, Beoga — to withdraw in protest.
A rep for Sheeran did not immediately return a request for comment. In his first concert since the scandal, Sheeran apologized for the scenario.
“I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician,” Sheeran said, “but this 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.”
On Thursday, Macklemore announced a Free Palestine Tour for this fall.
The multiday nor’easter is expected to hit the East Coast, affecting states from Virginia to Rhode Island. Coastal flood alerts are in effect for 33 million people. Wind gusts are expected to peak on Saturday, reaching up to 60 mph in coastal locations.
Sheeran’s shows weren’t the only major musical events canceled due to the threat of severe weather in the North East, with the Global Citizen Festival at Central Park in New York City also pulling the plug.
“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,” the organization wrote on social media.
“Safety has to come first,” Global Citizen added, noting that this is the first time the festival has been canceled in 14 years.
All Things Go, another New York City festival that was to be held at Forrest Hills Stadium in Queens this weekend, was also canceled due to the weather.
And a Friday night concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey by Australian rock legends AC/DC was postponed just hours before the show.
