Ed Sheeran saw his Instagram following drop by more than 200,000 after the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from the tour.
Earlier this week, the “Thrift Shop” rapper drew attention after delivering an impassioned “free Palestine” remarks while opening for Sheeran at New Jersey’s Gillette Stadium, prompting calls from Pink, the Israeli American Council and others for his removal from the tour.
Macklemore was subsequently dropped from the tour, and Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft later said he considered the remarks “deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community,” leading to the decision.
Sheeran later addressed the issue, stating he was “not complicit” and expressing his “appall at the Israel‑Palestine conflict,” describing the suffering on both sides as a tragedy.
According to Social Blade, Sheeran lost 149,636 Instagram followers on the day Macklemore announced his removal from the tour, with an additional 50,000 loss shortly after, bringing his total to about 47.3 million.
In the same 24‑hour window, Macklemore gained 750,098 Instagram followers, and has since added another 850,000, pushing his total past 8.4 million.
All of Sheeran’s support acts and backing band withdrew from the “Loop” tour. FINNEAS, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga issued statements backing Macklemore, with Rowe noting, “I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their power to silence the legitimate voices of those speaking out against Israeli genocide.”
Their follower counts have risen as well—FINNEAS added 96,163 followers in the 24 hours after his statement, Beoga gained 86,548, and Rowe, the first to exit, saw his following increase by 73 percent, now exceeding 132,000.
Recent Sheeran support acts BIIRD and Myles Smith also voiced their support for the rapper. The Irish traditional‑folk group BIIRD declared, “We stand unequivocally behind every word [Macklemore] said,” while Smith added, “What Palestinians are enduring is devastating and impossible to ignore; no child, family, or innocent person should have to suffer bombing, displacement, hunger, grief, or fear.”
Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters entered the fray, labeling Sheeran a “little prick” while applauding Macklemore for doing “the right thing,” and Massive Attack commented that “neutrality in the face of the killing of more than 20,000 children can never be neutral.”
Sheeran has not yet responded to the departures of his supporting acts or to these remarks.
In addition, Macklemore pledged his full $1 million tour earnings to Palestinian aid, with Robert Kraft matching the contribution with $2 million to support the region.