The rumor emerged in the wake of public outrage surrounding Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Following the decision to drop Macklemore from Ed Sheeran’s concert lineup over a pro-Palestinian statement, a viral social media rumor began circulating that pop star Katy Perry had pulled her entire discography from Apple Music in Israel. The unverified claim quickly sparked intense online debate and calls for verification from confused fans.
Claim: Katy Perry pulled her music from Apple Music in Israel
According to the widely shared post on X (formerly Twitter), Katy Perry supposedly removed all of her songs from the streaming service within Israel.
While the original post offered no context for the alleged protest, social media users quickly tied the rumor to the ongoing controversy surrounding Macklemore and his recent ouster from Ed Sheeran’s tour.
The post has accumulated more than 500,000 views and has been cross-posted across X, Facebook, and Instagram.
Reactions in the comments section show a split between users who accepted the rumor as fact and those urging caution, leading to the necessity of a formal fact-check.
Fact Check: There is no truth to the rumor
Ultimately, the claim is entirely fabricated. There is zero evidence indicating that the American pop singer has taken any steps to remove her music from Apple Music in Israel.
Neither Perry, her representatives, nor Apple Music have issued any statements or made social media posts backing up this assertion.
Independent fact-checkers have confirmed that Perry’s complete catalog remains fully accessible on the platform for users in Israel.
Had a mainstream artist of her stature actually enacted such a high-profile boycott, it would have immediately dominated headlines across major global news and entertainment publications. A thorough search of news archives reveals no legitimate coverage of the sort.
Background: The Macklemore and Ed Sheeran controversy
The false claim surfaced during a wave of fierce online debate sparked by Macklemore’s removal from Sheeran’s stadium tour. The fallout deepened when members of Sheeran’s own backing band reportedly stepped away from US tour dates in solidarity with the rapper.
The tension began after several venues allegedly refused to host Macklemore following his vocal onstage remarks expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, where he advocated for a “free Palestine.”
Macklemore’s dismissal has created ongoing difficulties for Sheeran as well, resulting in heavy fan backlash and even radio boycotts of his music.
Reflecting on his stance during a performance, Macklemore previously told a crowd, “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.’”