The rumor gained traction online following the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s exclusion from Sheeran’s stadium tour.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In the wake of the uproar over Macklemore being cut from Ed Sheeran’s tour, a fabricated story began spreading across social media alleging that the NFL named Sheeran as the top pick for the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show. The post quickly triggered heavy online debate and criticism, making a fact-check necessary.
Claim: NFL announced Ed Sheeran for Super Bowl halftime show
According to the widely shared Facebook post, league officials designated Sheeran as the primary candidate to headline the next Super Bowl halftime performance.
“Should Mr. Sheeran be available, we would love to move forward with the invitation,” fictional NFL Entertainment Coordinator Joe Barron was quoted as saying in the post. “The supporters of Ed vastly outnumber his critics.”
The post further claimed that the singer was weighing the proposal and felt deeply honored by the opportunity.
Within a short span, the post amassed hundreds of thousands of views, drawing sharp criticism from social media users aimed at both the artist and the league, with many mistakenly taking the report at face value.
Fact Check: The report originated from a satire page
In reality, the claim is completely untrue, as there is zero evidence linking Sheeran to the upcoming Super Bowl halftime lineup.
Neither the sports organization nor the Grammy-winning musician has released any official statements, announcements, or press notes confirming such plans.
Furthermore, standard web searches yield no coverage from reputable news or entertainment outlets, which undoubtedly would have reported a booking of this magnitude.
The rumor actually stems from a well-known Facebook parody page titled ‘America’s Last Line Of Defense,’ which explicitly states in its profile disclaimer that none of its published content is factual.
Context: Backlash over Macklemore’s exit from the tour
The satirical rumor emerged directly out of the public outcry surrounding Macklemore being dropped from Sheeran’s stadium tour. The decision came after several concert venues reportedly refused to host the rapper following his on-stage remarks advocating for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, alongside his calls for a “free Palestine.”
Addressing his departure, Macklemore remarked, “A primary motivation for joining this tour was the chance to stand before packed stadiums and voice two words incredibly important to me: ‘Free Palestine.’”
The rapper’s removal subsequently sparked a broader wave of criticism directed at Sheeran, resulting in fan boycotts and a radio station temporarily pulling his music from rotation.