British singer-songwriter Morrissey has canceled two upcoming concerts in New England after receiving what authorities describe as a “credible threat” on his life. The 66-year-old former Smiths frontman was scheduled to perform at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut Friday night (September 19, 2025) and at Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway Saturday evening.
The cancellations were announced through official social media channels on Friday afternoon, with venues confirming the security concerns. “In recent days, there has been a credible threat on Morrissey’s life,” the Instagram post stated. “Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of both the artist and audience, tonight’s engagement at Foxwoods has been cancelled.”
Meanwhile, MGM Music Hall released a similar statement regarding the Boston show, emphasizing safety as the primary concern. Both venues assured ticket holders that “all tickets will be refunded automatically” at their original point of purchase.
The death threats appear connected to an incident that occurred weeks earlier during Morrissey’s Canadian tour dates. 26-year-old Ottawa man Noah Castellano was arrested and charged with threats to cause death or bodily harm for threatening Morrissey on the social app Blue Sky. According to court documents, Castellano posted under an account titled “guy who gets shot in the head one hundred thousand times a day,” making explicit threats against the performer.
Despite the threatening social media posts, Morrissey proceeded with his scheduled performance at Ottawa’s CityFolk festival on September 12. The artist also completed shows in Toronto and New York City, including a Tuesday performance at Radio City Music Hall, before the New England concerts were ultimately canceled.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that Castellano posted $5,000 bail and is currently mandated to live at the Washington, D.C., area home of his father. When approached by Canadian media outlet Ottawa Citizen for comment on the charges, he replied, “I’m not interested.”
The cancellations mark the latest incidents in what has become an increasingly concerning trend of artists facing security threats. Recent years have seen numerous performers cancel shows due to safety concerns, including high-profile cases involving Taylor Swift, who canceled three Vienna concerts in August 2024 after authorities discovered a planned terror attack targeting her performances.
Security experts note that social media platforms have become common venues for individuals to make threats against public figures, requiring artists and venues to take extra precautions. The decision to cancel the Morrissey concerts demonstrates how seriously the entertainment industry now treats such threats, even when previous shows proceeded without incident.
Morrissey remains on his NUDE world tour, which began earlier this year with dates across the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe. The North American leg commenced September 10 in Montreal, with the artist’s next scheduled performance set for Tuesday at Philadelphia’s The Met.
Concert security has evolved significantly over recent decades, with venues implementing enhanced screening procedures and coordination between local law enforcement and federal authorities. The entertainment industry continues adapting its security protocols as threats against performers and their audiences evolve in both nature and frequency.
Fans expressed concern and support across social media platforms following the announcement. Many praised the decision to prioritize safety while expressing disappointment at missing the anticipated performances. The artist’s management team has not indicated whether the canceled shows will be rescheduled at later dates.
