Ed Sheeran protegees Katseye 'cut ties' with star as Macklemore storm grows with protests planned for first gig since crisis

Katseye have unfollowed Ed Sheeran on Instagram amid the growing crisis enveloping the British singer, as he faces protests at his first gig since Macklemore was dropped from his US tour.

Sheeran co-wrote Katseye’s single, Animal, which was released in July - but it has emerged that members Megan Skiendiel, Manon Bannerman, Yoonchae, Daniela Avanzini, Sophia LaForteza and Lara Raj were no longer in Sheeran’s followers list this week amid the backlash against the Shape of You hitmaker.

Raj began following Macklemore on Instagram, while both she and Skiendiel liked the post the rapper shared revealing he was removed from the remaining Loop tour dates he was scheduled to perform at after his Pro-Palestine speeches on stage.

Girl group Katseye have unfollowed Ed Sheeran AFP/Getty Sheeran has said the decision to drop rapper Macklemore was made by his promoter, not by himself.

But it has not stopped a growing backlash against the singer taking a stand against the decision.

All of the opening acts for Sheeran’s ongoing The Loop tour announced their withdrawal from remaining dates, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe.

Sheeran’s backing band Beoga also pulled out of the tour, saying in an Instagram post that they "fully supported" the message shared by Macklemore.

While Pro-Palestine demonstrations are planned outside the stadium in Philadelphia where Sheeran will play his first show on the tour since the debacle began.

Some fans with tickets to the show have also said they are planning to protest inside the arena itself during the show.

Pro-Palestine protests are planned outside the US stadium where Ed Sheeran is due to play PA Sheeran insisted he was “not complicit” in the US rapper’s exit and was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine” but was not willing to “abandon” his crew and support acts.

Sources have claimed he is “absolutely furious” at being placed under scrutiny and feels “thrown under the bus” by his friends.

“This felt very unfair on Ed and he’s understandably pretty hurt and angry that this has now begun to overshadow the tour,” an insider told the Daily Mail .

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The source added: “Even though Ed is a very mild-mannered guy he will speak his mind when he has to. He’ll be absolutely furious at being put in this situation.