Macklemore’s dismissal prompted several supporting acts and members of Sheeran’s backing band to exit the tour in solidarity.
WASHINGTON, DC: Ed Sheeran’s upcoming performances at Gillette Stadium grabbed headlines following their sudden cancellation in the wake of a severe nor’easter sweeping across New England. The scheduling change arrived while Sheeran’s tour was already battling intense backlash over the removal of rapper Macklemore as an opening act, sparking online speculation about a potential link between the two developments.
Claim: Ed Sheeran’s Gillette Stadium shows canceled because of Macklemore
Ed Sheeran’s slated weekend concerts at Gillette Stadium—home to Robert Kraft’s New England Patriots—were called off amid ongoing turbulence surrounding Macklemore’s departure from the lineup.
The friction began after Macklemore chanted “Free Palestine” during a performance and doubled down on the statement at a subsequent show, allegedly despite requests to refrain from doing so.
The rapper’s removal caused a domino effect, with fellow opening acts and members of Sheeran’s band stepping down in protest. Consequently, Sheeran was forced to perform solo during his Philadelphia set the previous weekend.
Meanwhile, Massachusetts Peace Action, an advocacy organization centered on the Israel-Palestine issue, had organized a protest outside the Saturday Gillette Stadium concert. The cancellation notice also dropped just a day after Macklemore publicly criticized both Sheeran and Kraft while announcing his own “Free Palestine Tour.”
These concurrent events fueled internet rumors, with numerous social media users tying the concert calling-off directly to the Macklemore controversy.
One X user commented, “That’s wild tbh. So had Ed just stuck by Macklemore, then he’d be in a better position than the PR nightmare he’s currently dealing with.”
Fact Check: False; cancellation was due to bad weather
The rumor is entirely unfounded. Social media readers added critical context to the viral posts, pointing out that media outlets later clarified the decision was strictly weather-related.
Initial breaking reports omitted the reasoning behind the postponement, leaving a vacuum that allowed internet sleuths to connect it to the ongoing tour drama.
However, follow-up reporting confirmed that treacherous meteorological conditions forced the cancellation. A spokesperson for Robert Kraft clarified that venue leadership and tour organizers had been evaluating the forecast alongside local emergency personnel all week.
The representative stated that management ultimately pulled the plug on Ed Sheeran’s Gillette Stadium appearances due to the hazardous weather projected for the entire weekend.
“Stadium and tour management, along with public safety officials, have been closely monitoring the weather forecast over the past week. Due to the severe weather forecast throughout the weekend, the tour has made the difficult decision to cancel the Ed Sheeran concerts at Gillette Stadium,” the statement read.
The representative added, “The decision was made with the safety of fans, staff, and everyone involved in the shows as the top priority. Refunds are available now at the point of purchase. Ticketholders who purchased through Ticketmaster will be automatically refunded.”
According to Fox Weather, Foxborough, Massachusetts—the home of Gillette Stadium—was braced for 1 to 2 inches of rainfall alongside wind gusts reaching up to 40 mph. Sheeran’s itinerary resumes with a performance in Atlanta on October 3.