ED SHEERAN LOSES NEARLY 500,000 INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS OVER MACKLEMORE ROW

Ed Sheeran has lost close to 500,000 Instagram followers amid controversy over his Loop tour, according to Social Blade data. The decline began after Macklemore was dropped as Sheeran's opening act, following pro-Palestine comments the rapper made on stage. Social Blade figures show Sheeran's account lost nearly 150,000 followers on 15 September, the day he first addressed the situation, a further 150,000 the next day and 98,000 more the day after. Sheeran's remaining opening acts later withdrew from the tour, and protesters gathered outside his first concert without Macklemore on the bill.

Macklemore said Robert Kraft, chief executive of Kraft Group, which owns Gillette Stadium, called Sheeran to say he would not be allowed to perform there. Sheeran said the decision had been the promoter's and that he did not want to be drawn into public debate over the war in Gaza. During his show on 19 September, Sheeran read a statement from a teleprompter, telling the audience he was making difficult decisions and mistakes, and apologising to fans. He described the events in Israel on 7 October as horrific, called what is happening in Gaza catastrophic, unjustifiable and disproportionate, and said the situation in the West Bank could not be overlooked.

Fans have reacted with divided views, and some have attempted to cancel tickets to Sheeran's forthcoming shows. Sheeran has described the period as one of the worst weeks of his life, according to reports. His comments linking the tour dispute to the war in Gaza followed sustained reaction to Macklemore's removal and the exit of other supporting acts. No changes to the Loop tour schedule have been reported, and organisers have not commented further on Kraft's alleged involvement.