Ed Sheeran’s scheduled Friday and Saturday performances at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, could be disrupted by severe weather, adding another complication after the controversy surrounding former opening act Macklemore and venue owner Robert Kraft.

Production sources told TMZ on Thursday that a storm moving through the Northeast had interrupted construction of Sheeran’s stage. The concerts had already drawn attention after Macklemore was removed from the lineup over his political views.

Although part of the stage had been assembled earlier Thursday, crew members were reportedly told to pause further construction, according to a source who spoke with the outlet.

Executives were said to be considering dismantling the structure before the shows. Forecast rain and strong winds could make the outdoor performances unsafe while also posing a risk to stage equipment.

A separate venue source said the stage was otherwise prepared for Friday’s concert, with lighting the only major element still being completed. Workers were testing the lights Thursday evening.

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Sheeran for additional comment.

No official decision had been announced on whether the concerts would go ahead. It was also unclear whether the performances would be postponed or canceled if the poor weather continued, the outlet reported.

Macklemore has claimed that Sheeran dropped him from the tour after Kraft objected to his pro-Palestinian statements amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East.

Several of Sheeran’s other opening acts and touring musicians subsequently withdrew from dates in support of Macklemore.

Those who stepped away included the group Beoga, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Finneas, the brother of Billie Eilish.

Sheeran addressed the controversy during his concert last Saturday at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, saying his public comments were not usually intended to be political.

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‘I don’t want to disappoint fans, and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet,’ Sheeran said.

Macklemore announced Thursday that he would launch a series of Free Palestine tour dates next month, with proceeds set to support organizations providing aid connected to Palestinian causes.

‘If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years,’ Macklemore said on Instagram. ‘There has been a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation, the power of billionaires that try to censor that call, and what we expect from artists right now.’

He continued, ‘When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention.’

Ticket buyers had already begun seeking refunds after Sheeran removed Macklemore from the opening lineup for his North and South American tour dates.

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced in a news release on Thursday that Ticketmaster had said it will honor hundreds of refund requests for the Gillette Stadium shows amid the controversy.

‘After hearing from nearly 200 consumers who were struggling to obtain refunds from Ticketmaster for Ed Sheeran’s shows at Gillette Stadium this weekend,’ Campbell said, ‘my office jumped into action to demand that consumers be provided a clear path to get their money back if they no longer want to attend due to significant changes to the lineup.

‘I encourage anyone who wants a refund to act quickly and submit their request at least 24 hours before showtime.’

The Rams made an unexpected roster move Wednesday ahead of their Week 4 matchup with the Eagles, promoting safety Maximus Pulley from the practice squad to the active roster.

Head coach Sean McVay later explained why Los Angeles felt the move was necessary.

The immediate need centered on special teams. The Rams must replace veteran running back Ronnie Rivers, a reliable contributor in that phase of the game, after he suffered an injury.

“It was just a freak deal where he was jumping up, and I think he got it when he was just jumping up to loosen himself up. It’s a four- to six-week injury. I’m bummed out for Ronnie,” McVay said. “We’re just a little bit lighter on the back end, so we figured, let’s bring him [Pulley] in.”

McVay said Pulley’s college film also helped convince the Rams that he was worth bringing up from the practice squad.

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Pulley played at Wofford College last season, where he turned in an impressive campaign at safety. He finished with 80 tackles, five interceptions and a forced fumble.

“We’ll welcome him with open arms and go from there,” McVay said.

For now, Pulley’s role appears likely to focus on special teams, though his opportunities could grow. Starting safety Kamren Kinchens missed Thursday’s practice because of a hamstring injury.

Pulley is currently listed as Los Angeles’ third safety, behind Tanner Ingle and Jaylen McCollough.

Still, a strong showing Sunday night against the Broncos could give Pulley a chance to make a lasting impression on the Rams’ coaching staff and teammates.

Pulley already caught the attention of the Eagles during the preseason. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the league’s 12th-highest-graded safety after he recorded 16 tackles, including five defensive stops.

A doctor at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh was fatally stabbed and his wife was critically wounded after a man allegedly broke into their Pennsylvania home and attacked them as they slept early Thursday, police said.

Dr. Idris Evans, 46, died in the attack at his home in Edgewood, according to the Allegheny County Police Department.

His wife was in critical but stable condition Thursday, police told News Media.

Allegheny County 9-1-1 received a report of a stabbing in the 100 block of Linden Avenue at 12:31 a.m. Responding officers and medical personnel found Evans and his wife with multiple stab wounds, police said.

Evans was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His wife was transported to a hospital for treatment.

Police identified the suspect as 32-year-old Elijah Hemingway of Pittsburgh.

Based on witness interviews, detectives determined that Hemingway allegedly entered the home and attacked Evans and his wife while they were in bed, police said.

Evans’ wife told investigators that the couple awoke to a man attacking them with a kitchen knife, according to court documents obtained by KDKA reported. She said the attacker was wearing only underwear and made statements about “being God,” the outlet reported.

During the assault, Evans’ wife shouted for the couple’s children, ages 8 and 12, to leave the house and go to a neighbor’s home, according to KDKA.

She also told investigators that Evans called the attacker “Elijah,” suggesting that he may have known him, according to the outlet.

“We do not know if there was any pre-existing relationship,” Allegheny County Assistant Superintendent Victor Joseph said, according to KDKA. “The woman did not know this male. We are trying to determine if the two males knew each other.”

A K-9 team from the Monroeville Police Department searching the neighborhood found Hemingway behind a nearby home with cuts on his hand, county police said. He remained hospitalized Thursday while awaiting transfer to the Allegheny County Jail, police told News Media.

Hemingway faces charges that include criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary and criminal trespass, police said. No changes to the charges had been announced Thursday, police told News Media.

Investigators have not disclosed a motive. Police told News Media that they were still examining both a possible motive and whether Hemingway and Evans knew each other.

Evans served as medical director of the Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and was an assistant professor of critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, according to his university profile.

“The UPMC and University of Pittsburgh community is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Dr. Idris Evans, a pediatric critical care physician at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and an assistant professor of critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh,” a UPMC spokesperson told News Media in a statement.

“Dr. Evans was a dedicated caregiver and valued member of our hospital and university communities. Our thoughts are with his family, loved ones, and colleagues during this difficult time. We ask that their privacy be respected.”

Bob Pettit, the dominant scorer and rebounder who led the St. Louis Hawks and became the NBA’s first Most Valuable Player in 1956, has died at 93.

Louisiana State University, Pettit’s alma mater, announced Thursday that he died the previous day. The school did not disclose a cause of death.

A celebrated All-American at LSU, Pettit spent all 11 of his NBA seasons with the Hawks and earned an All-Star selection every year. He guided the franchise to its only championship in 1958, defeating the powerhouse Boston Celtics.

Pettit also captured the NBA’s MVP award in 1959 and was named All-Star Game MVP four times. Only Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant has matched that total.

Pettit established himself during an era that featured stars such as Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson and Elgin Baylor. Yet much of his career came before the NBA reached a broad television audience, and playing in the smaller St. Louis market limited his national exposure.

Listed at 6-foot-9 and 205 pounds, Pettit was a formidable presence at power forward before that position had become a familiar part of basketball’s lexicon. He seldom missed a game, could play center and helped pioneer a style for big men that included facing the basket rather than operating exclusively with their backs to it.

Pettit won Rookie of the Year in 1955, his final season with the Hawks in Milwaukee before the franchise relocated to St. Louis.

One year later, he became the league’s first MVP after averaging 25.7 points per game to lead the NBA in scoring. He topped the scoring race again in 1959, averaging 29.2 points.

Pettit retired following the 1964-65 season with career averages of 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds. At the time, his 20,880 points ranked first in NBA history, while his 12,849 rebounds stood second.

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The Basketball Hall of Fame inducted Pettit in 1970.

“Lean, graceful, and always well-conditioned, Bob Pettit’s physical build made him one of the first big men to play facing the basket,” the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame says in his biography. “But Pettit’s resolve set him apart from his peers; he simply would not be outworked.”

Robert Lee Pettit Jr. was born Dec. 12, 1932, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His father worked in law enforcement and served as sheriff of East Baton Rouge Parish. Pettit developed later than some of his peers, not reaching the Baton Rouge High School varsity until his junior year.

As a senior, he led Baton Rouge High to a state championship and attracted more than a dozen college scholarship offers. He remained in his hometown to attend LSU, where he emerged as a star during his sophomore season—the earliest point at which players of that era could join the varsity team.

Pettit led the Southeastern Conference in scoring in each of his three seasons, averaging 25.5 points as a sophomore, 24.9 as a junior and 31.4 as a senior.

Pettit is one of just three LSU players—along with Pete Maravich and Shaquille O’Neal—to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Bronze statues honoring Pettit and O’Neal stand outside LSU’s home arena, the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. LSU retired Pettit’s No. 50, while the Atlanta Hawks retired his No. 9.

Much of Pettit’s career unfolded during the Celtics’ extraordinary championship run, one of the most dominant stretches in the history of American professional sports.

He came within two victories of winning three NBA championships. The Hawks reached the Finals four times during Pettit’s career, meeting Boston in every series and losing twice in seven games.

Boston won the first matchup in 1957 after a Game 7 that required two overtimes. A year later, Pettit and the Hawks claimed the title, interrupting the Celtics’ stretch of nine championships in 10 seasons. Atlanta also lost Finals series to Boston in 1960, again in seven games, and in 1961, in five.

After retiring from basketball, Pettit returned to Baton Rouge and worked in banking and financial consulting. In recent years, he remained a familiar presence at LSU and New Orleans Pelicans games.