Ed Sheeran loses 150,000 followers in wake of Macklemore controversy while rapper sees following skyrocket

Ed Sheeran’s follower count is taking a nosedive while Macklemore’s is on the ascent after the rapper was pulled from Sheeran’s tour following his onstage show of support for Palestine.

Sheeran’s U.S. Loop tour is imploding after Macklemore — the artist best known for his 2012 song “Thrift Shop” — announced Tuesday that he had been removed as Sheeran’s opening act on the tour because he called for a “free Palestine” at their concert earlier this month.

The decision came after billionaire Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium, said Macklemore would not be allowed to perform at the Massachusetts venue.

Although Sheeran has insisted he is “not complicit” in the controversy and that it was not his decision to drop Macklemore, the singer-songwriter has been met with massive backlash over his apolitical stance. All four of his supporting acts have dropped out of the tour in solidarity with Macklemore, other celebrities are calling him out for his inaction and now, his social media following has dwindled by tens of thousands.

In the day since Macklemore announced that he had been dropped from Sheeran’s tour, Sheeran lost 149,636 followers on Instagram, bringing his count to 47.3 million, according to data from social media analytics firm Social Blade.

During the same 24-hour period, Macklemore gained 750,098 followers on Instagram, according to the data. The “Same Love” rapper now has more than 7.9 million followers on the platform.

The Independent has reached out to Sheeran and Macklemore for further comment.

The other opening acts who quit Sheeran’s tour — Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, Danish band Lukas Graham and Finneas — have also gained followers since taking their stands.

Rowe, who led the exodus by first dropping out, has grown his following by 73 percent, with more than 132,000 people following him. He shared, in part, in his post Tuesday: “I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children. I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal.”

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Beoga, who was serving as Sheeran’s touring band, has gained 86,548 followers since announcing their departure. Similarly to Rowe, the band mentioned their Irish heritage as part of their decision to stand with Macklemore and Palestine, writing in their statement: “We are Irish people who understand colonialism. As founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement, we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be.”

Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother and collaborator who was set to tour with Sheeran in South America, wrote on Instagram: “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.” With more than four million followers already, Finneas gained 96,163 more Instagram followers after the statement.

Sheeran’s next show is set for Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.