Ed Sheeran’s scheduled Friday and Saturday concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, could be threatened by severe weather, adding another complication after the controversy surrounding former opening act Macklemore and venue owner Robert Kraft.
Production sources told TMZ on Thursday that a storm moving through the Northeast had slowed work on Sheeran’s stage. The concerts had already drawn attention after Macklemore was removed from the lineup over his political views.
The stage had been partially assembled earlier in the day, but crew members were later told to pause construction, according to one source who spoke with the outlet.
Organizers had not ruled out dismantling the structure before the weekend shows. Forecast rain and strong winds could make an outdoor performance unsafe while also threatening to damage sections of the stage.
A separate venue source said most of the setup was ready for Friday’s performance, with lighting the main remaining task. Crews were testing the lighting system Thursday night.
Our News Outlet has contacted Sheeran’s representatives for additional comment.
Ed Sheeran, pictured in Los Angeles earlier this year, could be forced to cancel his Friday and Saturday concerts in Foxborough, Massachusetts, because of severe weather after the controversy involving Macklemore and venue owner Robert Kraft
No final decision had been announced on the concert’s status, and it remained unclear whether the performances would be postponed or canceled if conditions deteriorate, the outlet reported.
Macklemore has said Sheeran removed him from the tour after Kraft applied pressure over his pro-Palestinian statements during the continuing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East.
Several of Sheeran’s planned opening acts and backing musicians subsequently withdrew from tour dates in solidarity with Macklemore.
Those who stepped away included Beoga, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Finneas, the brother of Billie Eilish.
Sheeran addressed the dispute during his concert at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field last Saturday, saying his own public statements were not typically focused on politics.
“I don’t want to disappoint fans, and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician, 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,” Sheeran said.
Macklemore announced Thursday that he would launch a series of Free Palestine tour dates next month, with proceeds going to organizations that support Palestinian causes.
“If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years,” Macklemore wrote on Instagram. “There has been a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation, the power of billionaires that try to censor that call, and what we expect from artists right now.”
Production sources said Thursday that a storm in the Northeast was hampering construction of Sheeran’s stage at Gillette Stadium
A fall storm could derail the concerts after the controversy involving Macklemore and venue owner Robert Kraft, pictured in 2023
Macklemore announced Thursday that proceeds from a series of Free Palestine tour dates beginning next month would support groups providing aid connected to Palestinian causes. He is pictured last year
He continued, “When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention.”
Ticket holders had already begun seeking refunds after Sheeran dropped Macklemore from the North and South American legs of his tour.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced in a news release on Thursday that Ticketmaster had said it will honor hundreds of refund requests for the Gillette Stadium shows amid the controversy.
‘After hearing from nearly 200 consumers who were struggling to obtain refunds from Ticketmaster for Ed Sheeran’s shows at Gillette Stadium this weekend,’ Campbell said, ‘my office jumped into action to demand that consumers be provided a clear path to get their money back if they no longer want to attend due to significant changes to the lineup.
‘I encourage anyone who wants a refund to act quickly and submit their request at least 24 hours before showtime.’
