The rumor began spreading shortly after rapper Macklemore was dropped from upcoming dates on Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A rumor has been making the rounds across social media suggesting that Spotify has completely scrubbed popular singer Ed Sheeran’s entire discography from its catalog. The report quickly caused alarm and outrage among the artist’s fanbase, though many online observers immediately doubted its authenticity and called for verification.
The Rumor: Spotify deletes Ed Sheeran’s catalog
The panic started with a viral post on X claiming that Spotify had taken down all of Ed Sheeran’s music.
Shared by several high-reach profiles, the post quickly pulled in more than two million views and tens of thousands of likes.
The comment section reflected widespread confusion and anger, with listeners criticizing the streaming platform for the supposed censorship.
At the same time, cautious users questioned the validity of the post, arguing it was likely a hoax.
The Reality: The claim stems from a satirical post
Ed Sheeran attends SiriusXM’s Small Stage Series at Irving Plaza on September 24, 2025, in New York City (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for SiriusXM)In truth, the allegation is entirely false, and there is zero proof that the platform took such a drastic step.
Spotify has issued no announcements, press releases, or social media statements indicating that Sheeran’s tracks were ever removed.
Similarly, the singer has not released any statements addressing or condemning a purge of his music.
A quick search on Spotify confirms that his catalog remains fully accessible to listeners.
Furthermore, standard web searches reveal no mainstream media coverage regarding any temporary deletion and subsequent restoration of his songs—an event that naturally would have made major headlines.
Instead, the narrative originated from ‘Hoops Crave,’ a well-known parody account on X that openly labels its content as satire and frequently publishes fabricated stories to drive online engagement.
Context: Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour
The fake news gained traction against the backdrop of recent tensions surrounding rapper Macklemore. The artist was recently removed from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour after multiple venues reportedly refused to host him following his onstage remarks advocating for a “free Palestine” and expressing support for people in Gaza and the West Bank.
“A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: ‘Free Palestine,’” the rapper told the crowd during a performance.
“I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them,” he added.