Ed Sheeran faces another blow in Gillette Stadium drama, all while Macklemore announces a whole new tour
Weather woes.
Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour has hit another roadblock, as the shows scheduled for September 25 and 26, 2026, at Gillette Stadium were officially cancelled, per Al Jazeera. This news comes after a turbulent few weeks for the singer, following the removal of his opening act, Macklemore. While the recent cancellations in Massachusetts are attributed to severe weather, the atmosphere surrounding the tour remains tense.
UNILAD reports that Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft confirmed that the decision was made due to a major storm system moving through the Northeast. Venue management and tour officials monitored the forecast throughout the week before deciding to pull the plug.
Kraft noted that the safety of fans, staff, and everyone involved in the production was the top priority. Production insiders also reported that the storm had already begun to disrupt the construction of Sheeran’s stage before the official announcement was made on Friday.
This cancellation is just the latest chapter in a series of setbacks for Sheeran’s US tour
The controversy began when Macklemore was dropped from the Loop tour lineup following his vocal support for Palestine. Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, said “Free Palestine” on stage during a show in New Jersey earlier this month. The rapper has been consistent in his criticism of the genocide in Palestine. He even released Hind’s Hall to honor Hind Rajab – the five-year-old Palestinian child killed by the Israeli military.
Macklemore’s comments during his opening set for Sheeran drew backlash from many corners. This backlash was amplified when singer-songwriter P!nk criticized Macklemore. Reports indicate that Kraft played a key role in ensuring Sheeran expelled the rapper from the stadium tour.
The fallout from that decision was swift. Several other supporting artists, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and the band Beoga, chose to drop out of the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.
The situation escalated to the point where Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell had to intervene. Her office received reports from nearly 200 consumers who were struggling to obtain refunds from Ticketmaster after the lineup changes. Campbell’s office demanded that a clear path for refunds be provided to any fans who no longer wished to attend the shows.
Sheeran received significant backlash for how he addressed the situation
During his performance in Philadelphia on September 19, while speaking to the crowd, the singer read a statement from a teleprompter, noting that he never intended to be an activist musician. He described the situation as an important argument regarding freedom of speech and complex political issues and highlighted that he was not complicit. Crying, Sheeran acknowledged the pressure he was under, saying many of his friends and family had seemingly abandoned him.
Despite this, he expressed gratitude to the 50,000 fans who still showed up to the venue. His take backfired as many accused him of being tone-deaf and centering himself while talking about a genocide. He was also called out for his political stances in favor of Ukraine and Israel in the past. While Sheeran continues to deal with the fallout, Macklemore recently announced a series of live shows titled the Free Palestine tour.
According to The Guardian, this tour will feature the rapper performing alongside various artists to raise funds for humanitarian aid organizations. The list of beneficiaries includes groups like Anera, Glia, the Gaza Soup Kitchen, and the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. Macklemore stated that his schedule had freed up, and he intended to use his platform to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Macklemore’s new tour is set to begin in Dublin on October 26, with further stops in Paris on October 29 and London on October 30. A North American run of dates is expected to follow. On Instagram, the rapper wrote that the last few weeks have shown a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation. He emphasized that being apolitical during a genocide is no longer a viable option for artists. He argued that the billionaire class should not be allowed to decide which voices are permitted on stage.
The tension surrounding the tour has had tangible effects on the business side of things as well
Data from Social Blade suggests that Sheeran has lost nearly half a million followers across his social media accounts. Additionally, ticket prices for his concerts reportedly fell by more than 10 percent in recent days, according to TicketData.
The artists who left the tour were particularly vocal about their motivations. Rowe, an Irish songwriter, cited his own country’s history of occupation and oppression as a primary reason for his departure. He expressed a need to stay true to his ancestors who resisted colonization.
As the Loop tour continues to face these mounting challenges, it remains a focal point for broader discussions about the role of artists in political activism. Fans holding tickets for the cancelled Gillette Stadium shows have been assured that refunds are available at the point of purchase. Those who bought tickets through Ticketmaster will receive automatic refunds, according to the official statement from the venue.
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