Ed Sheeran Cancels Boston Shows Citing Weather

Fans who stood in Philadelphia last weekend after Macklemore was kicked off Ed Sheeran's tour warned other musicians: if you drop political bombs on stage, you risk losing half your crowd. The Bad Habits singer was set to headline Friday and Saturday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, a property owned by Robert Kraft. Both shows are now canceled.

Tour promoter Messina Touring issued a statement Friday. "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 said. The decision placed safety as the top priority for fans, staff, and everyone involved.

Robert Kraft previously allegedly threatened to shut down the events if Macklemore stayed on the lineup, according to the Thrift Shop rapper. He also claimed Kraft convinced other stadium owners to bar Sheeran from their venues if the controversial act remained in the tour. One woman told Fox News Digital outside Saturday's concert that forcing an artist like Ed Sheeran to take a side is wrong. "He wants to stay in the middle," she said. "If you have an opinion, that's fine, but you're going to alienate at least 50% of your population, and it causes unrest."

She added that the Shape of You singer just wants to play music while fans want to enjoy it without worry. Macklemore was dropped as the opening act earlier this month after making pro-Palestinian comments at two shows. Other supporting acts quit in solidarity with him. In Philadelphia last Saturday night, Sheeran delivered a nearly four-minute speech explaining he never wanted to be an activist musician. He stood alone continuing the tour to honor his commitment to fans.

He admitted he can see both sides of such a complex issue but does not know enough about it yet. He is still learning and will make mistakes as he tries to navigate the situation. Sheeran added he could no longer hide how he feels about this humanitarian issue. Another fan told Fox News Digital ahead of the show that artists have a right to speak their minds, but they also do not have to. "I have a right to choose to listen or to not listen," she said. "I live in America, I can decide to ignore or to listen, and they have the same right."

A schoolteacher who spoke outside the concert called it a really tough thing. She spends her days in a classroom where she keeps her own political thoughts separate from her students so they can be themselves in a safe space. "I think that's kind of the same way I want concerts to be," she said. "I want us to have a space where we can be happy and get away from the rest of the world for a little while, and that's why we're here.

A fifth fan stepped up with a comment that cuts to the core of the issue: people are allowed to feel whatever they want. We all grow up in different worlds and see things through unique lenses. Trying to force everyone into one single box, telling them they must hold just one opinion on every topic, seems to make life harder for everybody. It robs folks of the simple joy of living their lives and doing what brings them happiness.

Another woman at the concert chimed in with a different perspective. She noted that artists like Ed Sheeran are simply trying to earn an honest living.

"I support the artists, they're here for the right reasons, and they're here to make a living," she told Fox News Digital. "They're doing something that they love, and they pursue their music for a reason." The crowd is there for his songs first and foremost. Once you strip away all the other noise, everyone just wants to have a good time.