Fact Check: Did Ed Sheeran lose over 500K Instagram followers for supporting Israel?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A viral post claimed that Ed Sheeran lost more than 500,000 Instagram followers after showing support for Israel. 

The claim comes as Sheeran faces online criticism over the removal of rapper Macklemore from his US tour.

The controversy has drawn widespread attention, with several supporting acts withdrawing from Sheeran's tour in solidarity with Macklemore.

Claim: Ed Sheeran lost over 500K Instagram followers after supporting Israel

Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour is facing backlash after Macklemore was dropped from the remaining US dates following his onstage pro-Palestinian remarks. Several other opening acts, including Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Beoga, and Lukas Graham, have also withdrawn from the tour in solidarity.

Sheeran has responded publicly, saying the promoter and venues made the decision to remove Macklemore, not him. "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," as per his statement.

He added, “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.”

He also said he is “appalled by the conflict” and the suffering on both sides and insisted that he is not complicit. 

Reports indicate that Sheeran lost tens of thousands of Instagram followers, with some estimates putting the figure close to 100,000, amid the backlash. His posts have also received a large number of critical comments.

The viral rumor originated from an X user named HFR Podcast, who claimed, “Ed Sheeran has lost over 500,000 followers on Instagram following his support of Israel.”

However, another viral post claimed that he lost more than 500,000 followers. The viral post also drew more than 4,000 comments and referenced Sheeran’s Instagram following of about 9 million.

Fact Check: The claim is false and heavily exaggerated

The claim that Ed Sheeran lost more than 500,000 Instagram followers is false and heavily exaggerated. Sheeran has not publicly supported Israel in connection with the controversy. 

The account @hfrpodcast also describes itself as “SATIRE & PARODY News, everything is Fake.” The post appears to use the real controversy to exaggerate Sheeran’s follower loss and falsely frame it as a result of his supposed support for Israel.

Sheeran did experience a measurable decline in Instagram followers during the controversy, but reports put the loss at a much lower figure.

There is no evidence that he publicly supported Israel or that such support caused the loss. His public comments have focused on the suffering caused by the Israel-Palestine conflict and his decision to distance himself from the removal of Macklemore.

The statement said, "Macklemore asked to join my tour last year, and I agreed, because I respect him as an artist. As with all my support acts, I agree that they play a setlist of their choosing."