Nobody saw it coming that this weeks-long controversy would ultimately be shut down by the weather. Ed Sheeran was originally set to play two "Loop" tour shows on September 25 and 26 at Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts), owned by Robert Kraft, but promoter Messina Touring announced the cancellation just before showtime. The statement read, "Due to severe weather warnings across the Boston and New England area throughout the entire weekend, and in consultation with local officials, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Ed Sheeran concerts at Gillette Stadium. This decision was made with the safety of fans, crew, and everyone involved as the top priority." Those who purchased through Ticketmaster will be automatically refunded, while others should contact their original point of purchase.
The timing of this cancellation couldn't have been more pointed. Over the past few weeks, these very two shows at Gillette Stadium had become the flashpoint of the controversy over Macklemore's removal from the tour lineup. Macklemore, while opening for Sheeran earlier at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, delivered remarks in support of Palestine, calling for a "Free Palestine" and saying that "all human beings" deserve to be treated with "dignity, respect, and equality." The performance drew criticism from groups including the Israeli-American Council, and Gillette Stadium owner Kraft stated that he found Macklemore's performance content and imagery "deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community."
Macklemore subsequently said he had been pulled from the remaining "Loop" tour dates, and accused Kraft of opposing his appearance at Gillette and pressuring other stadium owners as well. Sheeran said the final decision was made by promoters after multiple venues indicated they would cancel the shows if Macklemore remained on the lineup, insisting he himself was "not complicit" and revealing he had spent days trying to find a solution but was unable to do so. The controversy then snowballed, with FINNEAS, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and Beoga all announcing they were pulling out of the remaining opening slots in solidarity with Macklemore, and some of Sheeran's own backing musicians left the band as well.
Last weekend, Sheeran returned to the stage in Philadelphia, apologizing for his "missteps" in handling the controversy and admitting the whole ordeal had made him question whether he "even wanted to be an artist" anymore. He also called the situation in Gaza "catastrophic and indefensible," while condemning the October 7 attack on Israel, saying his goal was to create a concert environment where people of differing views could coexist. At that Philadelphia show, he performed without his original backing band and opening acts, and removed the B-stage that normally extended into the middle of the crowd, citing "concerns about what might happen." Meanwhile, Macklemore has announced his own "Free Palestine Tour," set to run across the UK and Europe, with all proceeds going to organizations supporting Palestine.
The Same Storm Wiped Out an Entire East Coast Music Weekend
The cancellation of the Gillette Stadium shows wasn't an isolated incident — it was part of a powerful nor'easter moving up the East Coast, bringing warnings of heavy rain, strong winds, coastal flooding, and dangerous surf conditions. Sheeran's shows were just one of many events affected. All Things Go's New York edition at Forest Hills Stadium was entirely cancelled; originally scheduled for September 25-27, the lineup included Zara Larsson, Brandi Carlile, Ethel Cain, and MUNA.
Central Park's Global Citizen Festival was also cancelled — the first time the event has been called off in its 14-year history. That day's lineup was set to include Ms. Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, John Legend, and Alicia Keys. The CBGB Festival at Brooklyn's Under the K Bridge venue was likewise cancelled, with a lineup that included Morrissey, Patti Smith, Interpol, Sex Pistols with Frank Carter, and Bikini Kill; a separate The Prodigy show at the same venue the night before, along with Brutalismus 3000, Sextile, and Lip Critic, was also cancelled due to forecasts of strong winds.
The three-day Oceans Calling Festival in Ocean City, Maryland was also called off, with headliners originally set to include Dave Matthews Band, Twenty One Pilots, Gwen Stefani, and Mumford & Sons. By contrast, AC/DC's "Power Up" show, originally scheduled at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, was postponed rather than cancelled, with a new date set for October 2 — existing tickets remain valid.
