Social media numbers have become a major part of celebrity culture. From film promotions and brand endorsements to fan engagement and digital influence, follower counts today often reflect a star’s online popularity. However, a massive Instagram cleanup has now sparked fresh conversations around fake followers and manufactured engagement after several global celebrities reportedly lost millions of followers overnight.
Priyanka Chopra, Virat Kohli, Kylie Jenner Lose Millions Of Followers
Celebrities including Priyanka Chopra, Virat Kohli, Kylie Jenner, Cristiano Ronaldo, Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez reportedly witnessed a sudden drop in their Instagram follower counts during what social media users are calling the ‘Great Purge of 2026.’
Virat Kohli https://t.co/HwqEfWPMGc Instagram Follower Update
Previous : 276,367,027
Current : 274,283,312
Change : -2,083,715 (lost) in the last 2.1d#Instagram #Followers #virat.kohli #Stats pic.twitter.com/fjIxTOmMq5
— Celebrity Radar (@CelebRadar0) May 6, 2026
According to reports, Instagram’s parent company Meta recently began removing fake accounts, inactive profiles and bots from the platform as part of a large-scale cleanup drive. The move reportedly impacted several high-profile celebrity accounts with massive follower bases.
Among the biggest names affected was Kylie Jenner, who reportedly lost nearly 14 million followers, according to updates shared by social media tracking page PopBase. Indian cricketer Virat Kohli also reportedly saw a drop of over 2 million followers within two days.
Priyanka Chopra’s name had also surfaced in conversations around fake follower investigations in the past. Reports claimed that the actor was summoned by Mumbai Police in connection with a fake follower scam several years ago. However, Priyanka never publicly addressed the matter in interviews or on social media.
The Great Purge of 2026 Explained
Meanwhile, Selena Gomez reportedly lost around 6 million followers during the cleanup. On the other hand, some accounts appeared unaffected or even gained followers. K-pop group BTS reportedly added nearly 36,700 followers during the same period, while singer Shakira also witnessed growth in numbers.
| Main female acts and the number of followers they lost after Instagram's bot purge.
Via: @CelebRadar0 pic.twitter.com/z77joeJ5nt
— Pop Hub (@PopHubOfficial) May 6, 2026
The sudden follower drop has once again brought attention to long-standing discussions around fake engagement on social media. Back in 2019, the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP), a London-based independent music education provider, published a report claiming that several celebrities with massive social media followings had a high percentage of fake followers.
While follower counts continue to remain a major currency in the entertainment and influencer industries, the latest Instagram cleanup has highlighted how digital popularity can often fluctuate overnight. The ‘Great Purge of 2026’ has now left social media users debating the real meaning of online influence in an era dominated by numbers and algorithms.
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Also Read: Met Gala 2026: Priyanka Chopra To SKIP Fashion’s Biggest Night; Sources Reveal Why
The post Priyanka Chopra To Virat Kohli: Here’s Why Celebrities Are Suddenly Losing Millions Of Instagram Followers appeared first on Bollywood Bubble.
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