Ed Sheeran's shows at Robert Kraft's stadium cancelled
Ed Sheeran's shows at the stadium which blacklisted Macklemore's performance have been cancelled at the eleventh hour, according to reports.
The singer-songwriter, 35, had been scheduled to take to the stage at the Gillette Stadium this weekend, just minus his support acts - but the gigs have now been called off.
A representative for New England Patriot’s boss Robert Kraft, who owns the venue, announced they had come to 'the difficult decision' to cancel the concerts due to weather concerns.
According to TMZ, Sheeran's shows on Friday (25 September) and Saturday (26 September) have been scrapped.
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It's the latest development in the saga surrounding the 'Loop Tour', which has been at the centre of controversy after Kraft issued an ultimatum that led to Macklemore being kicked off the lineup earlier this month.
Kraft, 85, became a focal point of the row that erupted between Sheeran and Macklemore a couple of weeks back, as the billionaire businessman vetoed the rapper performing at his stadium.
Explaining why he had been booted off the Loop Tour after making pro-Palestine comments on stage, Macklemore said in a statement that the 'A Team' singer had received a call from Kraft.
"We were scheduled to play Gillette Stadium later this month, which is owned by the Kraft Group," the Grammy-winner said. "Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium.
"Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues'."
Now, no one will be gracing the stage at the Gillette Stadium this weekend, as Sheeran's two concerts have been called off.
A representative for Kraft told TMZ: "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 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.
"Ticket holders who purchased through Ticketmaster will be automatically refunded."
Earlier this week, the publication reported that the stadium had pressed pause on the construction of the stage due to the impending weather.
The stadium is located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, which is set to be battered by rain and wind in the coming days.
Locals have been warned to expect heavy showers and gusts of up to 40mph, FoxWeather reported.
Before the shows were abandoned, Kraft said he would not allow ‘hate speech’ at his venues when addressing Macklemore's comments about Palestine.
He said: "Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech.
"Based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line.
"This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf.
"Their pain and loss are real. But that advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas, a United States and globally (including Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, and Japan) designated terrorist organisation whose horrific actions have caused immeasurable suffering for Palestinians and Israelis alike."
Topics: Ed Sheeran, US News, Celebrity
Olivia Burke