Music artist Ed Sheeran cleared the air after a broadcaster shared a "divisive and damaging" report connecting him to Harry Potter author JK Rowling.
The "Shape of You" singer took to Instagram and denied reports claiming he spent New Year's Eve with Rowling, who has fallen out of favor with fans in recent years for her transphobic comments.
The Sun wrote about Rowling's "Plush Scots NYE Bash" at her secluded Scottish estate, which offered "fairground rides for A-listers." The publication reported that the "Star-Studded Guest List" included Sheeran.
Reporter India Willoughby shared the story and included a post suggesting Sheeran also "brought joy" to soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, or IDF.
"Ed Sheeran reportedly went to JK Rowling's New Year's Eve party, too," wrote Willoughby.
On January 21, Sheeran addressed the reporter and clarified his actual whereabouts that day.
"Respectfully, India Willoughby, and any other journalist who has reported both these stories, neither are true."
"I spent new year with my family and friends."
@teddysphotos/Instagram
The singer also pointed to Willoughby suggesting he was aligned with the Israeli military and wrote:
"The story about wounded soldiers at my show, was a charity that sourced tickets to my show in Cyprus last year, which was a large scale public concert."
After clarifying the benefit performance in September was part of his international + – = ÷ x Tour, aka The Mathematics Tour, he added:
"This sort of reporting is [divisive] and damaging, please research before you post things."
Fans were here for his shutdown.
They also blasted Willoughby for circulating the rumor.
Willoughby later maintained she was still a fan of Sheeran and wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
"To all those commenting below, I’m delighted Ed didn’t go to JKR’s party - the only thing I commented on. I appreciate the bulk of Twitter users now only read the bits they want, but you should read the facts."
"I said ‘reportedly’ because the type of Right Wing trashy papers most of you love and DO believe DID report it. I also DID reach out to Ed at the time - but no reply. I remain an Ed Sheeran fan."
Willoughby shared a screenshot of her tweet on January 3 seeking confirmation on the veracity of the questionable headline.
"So disappointing if Ed Sheeran did go. There's no mistaking Rowling's transphobia anymore," she wrote, adding, "Just look at her tweets over the last 48 hours. Maybe Ed could tell us?"
@IndiaWilloughby/X
Willoughby also shared a screenshot indicating the Daily Express removed their previously published false reporting of Sheeran.
@IndiaWilloughby/X
"I note the Daily Express has now removed their made-up story. Delighted I can still be an @edsheeran fan," she wrote.
The Sun article has since updated its report and currently does not mention Sheeran as an attendee of Rowling's bash.
