Celebrity
Ed Sheeran loses half a million followers after conflict with opening act Macklemore
Ed Sheeran lost approximately 500,000 Instagram followers in one week following the removal of Macklemore from his Loop tour lineup due to the latter's pro-Palestinian statements. Although Sheeran attributed the decision to promoters and venues rather than his own choice, he faced significant criticism for not defending Macklemore's freedom of speech, leading other supporting artists to withdraw in solidarity. During his first concert in Philadelphia, an emotional Sheeran publicly apologized, stating that what is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unacceptable, and admitting that he made mistakes. His follower count continued to drop even after this public expression of regret.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's