Sydney Sweeney's 200K Follower Drop Meets Ed Sheeran's Macklemore Crisis in Explosive Celebrity Backlash

Sydney Sweeney's reported loss of more than 200,000 Instagram followers and Ed Sheeran's escalating fallout over Macklemore have emerged as two separate celebrity controversies driving online discussion this week. Sweeney's follower decline came amid backlash over her Novig campaign, while Sheeran's tour dispute intensified after three supporting acts and his touring band Beoga withdrew following Macklemore's removal.

The controversies are unrelated, but their timing has prompted social-media users to compare the different forms of backlash facing the two stars.

Sydney Sweeney Loses More Than 200K Followers

Sweeney's Instagram following initially increased by around 50,000 in the three days after the Novig campaign launched on 9 September.

That growth then reversed sharply. Social Blade data showed Sweeney lost 136,848 followers on Sunday and another 68,000 on Monday, taking the reported decline beyond 200,000.

The figure represents roughly 1 per cent of her Instagram following, meaning the loss is significant in absolute terms but does not amount to a collapse of her overall audience.

The decline came as the actress faced criticism over the Novig campaign, which features her nude or nearly nude while sports equipment covers parts of her body.

Female Athletes Challenge Sweeney's Novig Campaign

The campaign prompted criticism from female athletes over what they described as the sexualisation of women in sport.

Olympic swimming champion Ariarne Titmus and British sprinter Amy Hunt were among those who criticised the campaign. Their objections focused on Sweeney's imagery being used in an advert marketed around sport.

Sweeney responded to the controversy by sharing images of female athletes who had previously appeared nude in magazine features. The move added another layer to the debate over the Novig campaign.

Novig CEO Jacob Fortinsky said Sweeney approached the company about an equity partnership and was involved in the campaign's creative process.

Ed Sheeran Faces Backlash Over Macklemore Removal

Meanwhile, Sheeran's Loop Tour has become embroiled in a separate dispute after Macklemore was removed from its remaining US dates.

Macklemore made pro-Palestinian comments during a 4 September performance at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, including saying 'Free Palestine.' The move came after some venue owners objected to his participation, while a petition from the Israeli American Council also called for his removal.

Sheeran later said the decision was made by promoter Messina Touring Group and venues rather than by him. He said some venues had threatened to cancel shows if Macklemore remained on the bill.

Macklemore has given a different account, saying Robert Kraft rallied support among some stadium owners who opposed his continued participation in the tour. Kraft said the decision was based on Macklemore's recent comments and what he described as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that he said had been offensive to the Jewish community.

Macklemore has denied being antisemitic and said that equating criticism of Israel with antisemitism deflects from accountability.

Ed Sheeran's Tour Fallout Widens

The dispute escalated when Finneas, Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe withdrew from the tour, while Sheeran's touring band Beoga also announced its departure. All four acts have now withdrawn from the tour.

The separate controversies have since been placed side by side on social media. A TikTok post highlighted Sweeney's reported follower decline alongside the fallout surrounding Sheeran and Macklemore.

The TikTok's comparison brought the two unrelated controversies together, although the reported follower loss for Sweeney has independent support while claims about Sheeran's follower numbers could not be independently verified.

The verified developments remain the sharp decline reported in Sweeney's Instagram following and the widening fallout from Macklemore's removal from Sheeran's tour.