Ed Sheeran finds himself at the center of online backlash following the controversial departure of rapper Macklemore from his US tour.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A viral rumor recently circulated online claiming that Ed Sheeran shed over half a million Instagram followers after allegedly voicing support for Israel.
This claim surfaces as Sheeran faces severe scrutiny online over the decision to remove Macklemore from his upcoming US concert dates.
The situation has escalated into a broader controversy, prompting multiple supporting acts to pull out of the tour in solidarity with the ousted rapper.
Claim: Ed Sheeran loses 500K+ Instagram followers over purported Israel support
The backlash began when Macklemore was cut from the remaining dates of Sheeran’s Loop Tour following pro-Palestinian remarks made during a live performance. In response, several other opening acts—including Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Beoga, and Lukas Graham—withdrew from the lineup.
Addressing the fallout, Sheeran released a public statement clarifying that the choice to drop Macklemore came from the tour promoters and venues, not from him personally. “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision; it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me,” he explained.
He further noted, “I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.”
Additionally, Sheeran expressed that he is “appalled by the conflict” and the widespread suffering on both sides, firmly denying any complicity.
While analytics show the artist did see a drop in his follower count amid the digital outcry—with estimates landing closer to 100,000—his recent posts have simultaneously been flooded with critical remarks.
The rumor regarding the massive 500,000-follower loss originated from an X (formerly Twitter) account called HFR Podcast, which posted, “Ed Sheeran has lost over 500,000 followers on Instagram following his support of Israel.”
The viral post quickly gained traction, pulling in more than 4,000 comments while referencing the singer’s overall following of approximately 9 million.
Fact Check: The viral claim is entirely false and grossly exaggerated
Reports asserting that Ed Sheeran lost more than 500,000 Instagram followers are completely fabricated and heavily inflated. Furthermore, Sheeran has not made any public statements supporting Israel in relation to this controversy.
A closer look at the source, @hfrpodcast, reveals that the account explicitly identifies as a source of “SATIRE & PARODY News, everything is Fake.” The post appears to have capitalized on a genuine public disagreement to manufacture a sensationalized narrative tying the singer to the Israel-Palestine discourse.
Although Sheeran did experience a noticeable dip in Instagram followers during the peak of the backlash, the actual numbers are nowhere near the figures reported online.
No verifiable proof exists to show that Sheeran voiced backing for Israel, nor that any such stance influenced his follower count. Instead, his actual public remarks have strictly addressed the devastation of the Israel-Palestine conflict and clarified his separation from Macklemore’s removal.
“Macklemore asked to join my tour last year, and I agreed, because I respect him as an artist,” Sheeran’s statement concluded. “As with all my support acts, I agree that they play a setlist of their choosing.”