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Ed Sheeran's Friday and Saturday concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, were cancelled because of a weekend nor'easter, with refunds promised as the storm brings strong winds, coastal flooding and heavy rain to the East Coast.
Ed Sheeran's concerts scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, have been cancelled because of a weekend nor'easter bearing down on New England.
The stadium is about 35 kilometres southwest of Boston. The cancellations were announced Friday by concert promoter Messina Touring. Due to the severe weather warnings in place in Boston and 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 promoter said in a statement.
Ed Sheeran Concert Refunds Issued Due To Storm Safety
The decision was made with the safety of fans, staff and everyone involved in the shows as the top priority, the company said. Refunds will be provided. The storm is expected to sock much of the East Coast with strong winds, coastal flooding and heavy rain.
The National Weather Service said gusts could hit 60 to 65 mph (97 to 105 kph) on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket on Friday night, and about 50 to 55 mph (80 to 89 kph) around Boston. Forecasters described a stormy start to the weekend for the region. The cancellations are the latest disruption to Sheeran's Loop Tour.
Macklemore was dropped from the lineup for making pro-Palestinian comments onstage during a Sept. 5 show in New Jersey, and supporting acts withdrew in solidarity. The English pop singer said at a concert Saturday in Philadelphia that he wants his music and shows to be about unity and humanity, not politics. Sheeran opened that Philadelphia concert by apologizing to fans for making mistakes after his tour was thrust into controversy.
Macklemore Drop Sparks Controversy Over Antisemitism Rhetoric
He also said the attacks in Israel of Oct. 7, 2023, were horrific, and that what is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable. The decision to drop Macklemore came at the urging of Robert Kraft, the owner of the NFL's New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium. Kraft said in a statement that it was the result of the rapper's recent comments and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.
Sheeran has said he was not responsible for cutting Macklemore from the tour, blaming the tour promoter. Macklemore said last week that he was donating US$1-million to support Palestinian relief efforts and called on Kraft to match the gift. A spokesperson for Kraft said the billionaire and Sheeran each agreed to donate US$2-million, but they have not specified where the money will be directed.
Sheeran Tour Earnings Highlight Financial Impact Of Cancellations
As of last year, the Grammy-winning Shape of You singer was the No. 3 top-earning concert act of the millennium, according to industry magazine Pollstar. The Foxborough dates had been highly anticipated by fans across New England before the weather forced the promoter's hand. No makeup dates have been announced. Fans were told to watch for refund details from the point of purchase.
The nor'easter is the same system prompting weather warnings across the Northeast, with coastal communities bracing for flooding and power outages. Local officials had been consulted before the cancellation was announced. For now, Sheeran's Loop Tour moves forward without its two Gillette Stadium shows, and ticketholders will get their money back.
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CTVNews:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Ed Sheeran Gillette Stadium Nor'easter Loop Tour Macklemore
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