the mathematics tour

Khalid had been an opener on the North American leg of Ed Sheeran’s Mathematics Tour since its May 6 kickoff. Uproxx listed it among “Most Anticipated Concert Tours Of Summer 2023,” and fans are especially anticipating Khalid’s return to the stage after being involved in a car accident last week.

Khalid’s mother, Linda Wolfe, provided an encouraging update to KVIA ABC-7.

According to the El Paso, Texas outlet, Khalid “had pulled over after his car started to overheat, got into the passenger seat, then was hit by a passing car,” suffering “minor injuries” that he’s currently recovering from. Khalid is “expected to be back” on the Mathematics Tour beginning this Friday, June 30, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Sheeran stepped in and opened for himself at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland last Saturday, June 24, and told the presumably confused crowd he was on stage earlier than expected because of Khalid’s accident.

“He’s recovering, and we wish him the best,” Sheeran said (as captured by a fan-taken video). “And I’m gonna say this after every song because if people don’t know I was gonna be the opening act today, people are gonna be walking in, like, ‘This show isn’t what I thought it was. I thought there’d be more fireworks.’ But here we are. I’m basically playing songs from – (Subtract).”

Sheeran’s North American Mathematics Tour leg is scheduled to run through September 23. He is simultaneously performing a more intimate Subtract Tour. See all of his upcoming dates here.

Ed Sheeran is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The North American leg of Ed Sheeran’s Mathematics Tour began on May 6, around the release of his – (Subtract) album and overlapping with his more intimate Subtract Tour.

Khalid has been among Sheeran’s many openers, but he was forced to miss Saturday’s (June 24) show at FedExField in Landover, Maryland.

A fan video making the rounds online captured Sheeran opening for himself and explaining he was on stage earlier than expected because Khalid “got in a car accident this week.”

Sheeran continued, “He’s recovering, and we wish him the best. And I’m gonna say this after every song because if people don’t know I was gonna be the opening act today, people are gonna be walking in, like, ‘This show isn’t what I thought it was. I thought there’d be more fireworks.’ But here we are. I’m basically playing songs from – (Subtract).”

A separate TikTok shows Sheeran enjoying his unusual slot as an opener because “when you’re the main act, there’s a bunch of pressure because people have paid to see you” and joking that the last time he was an opener, MySpace was still popular.

According to Complex, Sheeran concluded his opening set by adding, “I really hope Khalid gets well soon and that he’ll be joining us in Boston.” The record-setting Mathematics Tour is scheduled to hit Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts for back-to-back shows on Friday, June 30, and Saturday, July 1.

As of this writing, Billboard has reached out to Khalid’s representation for further details but is awaiting response.

Ed Sheeran is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.