Ed Sheeran’s Gillette Stadium shows canceled: TMZ

Singer Ed Sheeran’s two concerts scheduled for this weekend at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, have been canceled due to severe weather, according to a US media report.

The stadium and tour management decided to cancel Friday and Saturday’s shows because of a major nor’easter expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to the New England region, TMZ reported, citing sources with direct knowledge.

Ticket holders will receive refunds, it added.

The cancellation comes amid controversy surrounding Sheeran’s tour after US rapper Macklemore was removed from the lineup over his pro-Palestine advocacy at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium earlier this month.

During his Sept. 4-5 performances as Sheeran’s opening act at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Macklemore said “Free Palestine” and performed “Hind’s Hall,” his protest song inspired by the pro-Palestine student movement.

Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, had opposed Macklemore performing at the venue following the rapper’s remarks.

Macklemore said in an Instagram statement that Sheeran, whom he described as a friend of 13 years, told him Kraft had organized a boycott among other stadium owners unless he was dropped.

Sheeran said the decision was made by tour venues and promoters, not by him.