British musician Morrissey has called off two performances in New England due to what his team described as a “credible threat” to his life. The decision was made following the arrest of an Ottawa man who allegedly made an online death threat connected to the singer’s festival performance in Canada on September 12. The shows were scheduled to take place at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, and Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway. Both venues have confirmed that ticket refunds will be issued.
A statement on Morrissey’s official social media pages on Friday read, “In recent days, there has been a credible threat on Morrissey’s life.” The decision to cancel the two shows was made out of concern for the safety of the artist and his band. The post also assured ticket holders that refunds would be processed automatically at the point of purchase. Morrissey, whose full name is Steven Patrick Morrissey, expressed his gratitude to his fans for their understanding.
Canadian authorities have identified the man who allegedly made the threat as 26-year-old Noah Castellano. He reportedly posted the threat on Bluesky on September 4, ahead of Morrissey’s CityFolk performance in Ottawa. Castellano was arrested on September 12 and charged with uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm. He was subsequently released on $5,000 bail.
Despite the alleged threat, Morrissey’s CityFolk performance proceeded as planned on September 12. This was followed by performances in Toronto on September 13 and New York City on September 16. The New England shows were the first to be cancelled following the public revelation of the arrest.
The cancellations come at a time of increased security concerns at live events, following the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah college event on September 10.
Morrissey, 66, is a former member of the Manchester band The Smiths. He is a contentious figure in the UK, having made statements that have been criticized as racist and misogynistic. In 2019, he publicly supported the UK’s far-right For Britain movement. He has also made controversial comments about Chinese people, the #MeToo movement, and Islamic practices.