Ed Sheeran’s Foxboro Shows Canceled Due to ‘Severe Weather Forecast’

Ed Sheeran’s concerts at Gillette Stadium this weekend have been canceled due to an actual storm and not the figurative one brewing around the singer in recent weeks.

On Friday, hours before Sheeran’s first of two gigs at the Foxborough, Massachusetts stadium owned by Robert Kraft, the tour’s promoter, Messina Touring Group, confirmed the cancelation due to safety issues stemming from a Nor’easter scheduled to sweep into New England this weekend.

“Due to the severe weather warnings in place in Boston and across New England throughout the weekend and following consultation with local officials, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Ed Sheeran concerts at Gillette Stadium,” they wrote on Instagram. “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.”

Some ticketholders had already refunded their tickets after Macklemore and the trek’s other opening acts dropped off Sheeran’s Loop Tour, in part because of Kraft’s mandate barring Macklemore from performing at Gillette Stadium. The situation sparked a free speech debate and had Sheeran on the receiving end of punchlines and criticism.