{
  "id": 9507074,
  "title": "Ed Sheeran loses nearly half a million followers as Macklemore row hits US tour",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/ed-sheeran-loses-nearly-half-a-million-followers-as-macklemore-row",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-24T05:52:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/ed-sheeran-loses-nearly-half-a-million-followers-as-macklemore-row-hits-us-tour-1.500685967"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Between September 15 and 23, Ed Sheeran experienced a significant drop in Instagram followers, losing nearly 500,000 as the controversy surrounding Macklemore's removal from his US tour intensified. Macklemore had spoken out in support of Palestinians during Sheeran's shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5, performing his song about pro-Palestinian student protesters at Columbia. This sparked criticism and led to the Israeli American Council petitioning for Macklemore's removal from the tour. In a statement on September 15, Sheeran claimed that the decision was made by the tour promoter and venue owners, not himself. Several artists, including Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and Beoga, also withdrew from the US leg of the tour, expressing their support for Macklemore's message. Sheeran addressed the controversy during a September 19 concert in Philadelphia, apologizing and sharing his own views on the conflict for the first time. Despite these challenges, Sheeran's North American tour is set to continue, concluding on November 7 at Raymond James Stadium.",
  "summary": "Ed Sheeran has lost nearly 500,000 Instagram followers over the past week, according to figures from Social Blade, amid the controversy surrounding Macklemore's removal from Sheeran's Loop tour. The decline began on September 15, the day Sheeran addressed Macklemore's departure. Social Blade figures show Sheeran's account lost close to 150,000 followers that day, followed by another significant…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}