Ed Sheeran’s concerts at Robert Kraft’s Gillette stadium canceled hours before showtime

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Ed Sheeran’s shows at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts have been canceled, The Independent has confirmed.

The concerts were scheduled to take place this evening and Saturday at the home of Robert Kraft’s New England Patriots.

Staff at the stadium told The Independent the concert had been canceled due to bad weather as a huge nor’easter storm approaches the area.

The news comes amid major controversy surrounding Sheeran’s ongoing U.S. tour.

Earlier this month, rapper Macklemore announced he had been fired as the British singer-songwriter’s support act over his pro-Palestine comments at an earlier concert. The “Thrift Shop” musician claimed that billionaire Kraft — who owns Gillette Stadium — personally called Sheeran to say he would not be allowed to perform at the venue.

Ed Sheeran’s shows at Robert Kraft’s Gillette Stadium have been canceled due to bad weather conditions (Getty Images for iHeartRadio)

Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft is central to the controversy surrounding Ed Sheeran’s tour as he called the singer personally to tell him that Macklemore would not be allowed to play at his venue (Getty)

Sheeran later responded by stating he would not be drawn into a public debate about the Gaza war and that it was “the promoter’s decision” to remove Macklemore.

The fallout continued when Sheeran’s other opening acts withdrew, while protesters gathered outside his first solo concert last week.

During that show, Sheeran broke down in tears while reading a prepared statement from an autocue, declaring: “I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes. I’m so, so sorry. I don’t want to disappoint fans. I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.

“What happened in Israel, and at the music festival on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate. My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilian loss and loss of children’s lives. And the systemic injustice we’re seeing unfolding in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.”

He also said that he went ahead with the show despite backlash and the exodus of his opening acts to honour his commitment to his fans, adding that it is “completely central to who” he is.

Macklemore said Kraft called Sheeran personally to inform him that he would not be allowed to play at Gillette Stadium over his pro-Palestine comments (AFP/Getty)

Following his dismissal, Macklemore challenged Kraft to match his $1 million donation to organizations aiding Palestinians, saying: “Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting. A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on this earth.”

Kraft later responded in a statement shared to X, suggesting he was doubling Macklemore’s donation.

“I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people,” Kraft wrote. “I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting. Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid the region in fighting this humanitarian crisis.

“Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges.”

The cancellation of the Massachusetts concerts — which were to be held just outside Boston — comes as a nor’easter is set to slam the East Coast over the weekend, dumping heavy rain and unleashing hurricane-force winds on residents living in North Carolina all the way up to Maine.

“This storm may be remembered for its destructive coastal flooding and severe beach erosion, especially along eastern Long Island and the Massachusetts coast,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said.

Strong wind gusts topping 40 mph from North Carolina to New York are pushing ocean and bay waters toward shore, and meteorologists say flooding will be at its worst through Friday in the mid-Atlantic region.

Some urban areas like Boston may even see flash flooding, forecasters warned.