Ed Sheeran shows at stadium owned by pro-Israel Robert Kraft cancelled

What Happened

Ed Sheeran's weekend concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, owned by pro-Israel billionaire Robert Kraft, were cancelled due to severe weather warnings in Boston and New England. Concert promoter Messina Touring Group posted on Instagram on Friday morning that the decision was made with the safety of fans, staff and everyone involved as top priority; Ticketmaster purchases would be automatically refunded, with other refunds at point of purchase. The cancellation occurred amid controversy over Sheeran's removal of rapper Macklemore as his opening act. Kraft had threatened to cancel Sheeran's stadium concerts if Macklemore stayed and lobbied other stadium owners to apply pressure, according to Macklemore and US media reports. Kraft later said the decision was based on Macklemore's 'recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran's shows in New Jersey... that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community,' and did not deny coordinating pressure. Macklemore, who had performed wearing a keffiyeh at MetLife Stadium and said 'Free Palestine,' announced he would headline his own 'Free Palestine' concert tour starting next month in Dublin, Paris and London.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The episode highlights how the Israel-Palestine conflict is shaping cultural and entertainment spaces, with wealthy pro-Israel figures using ownership leverage to remove pro-Palestinian artists. Macklemore's removal and the withdrawal of all other opening acts — including Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Beoga, and Lukas Graham — reflect a broader contest over public expression and boycotts during the Gaza war, with financial and reputational pressures on artists who voice pro-Palestinian positions.

Watch For

Macklemore's 'Free Palestine' tour is set to begin next month in Dublin, Paris and London, with US dates and additional performers to be announced. Watch for further cancellations or changes to Ed Sheeran's remaining tour dates, any responses from stadium owners, pro-Israel groups, or other artists, and whether the announced donations to Palestinian organisations proceed.