Ed Sheeran recently looked back at his infamous 'Game of Thrones' cameo, admitting that while the experience was disappointing, the backlash didn't necessarily surprise him. Speaking on a recent episode of Benny Blanco's podcast, 'Friends Keep Secrets,' the singer reflected on how his appearance seemed to bother a lot of people.
Ed Sheeran's Cameo Controversy
Even though several other famous musicians had appeared on the show before him with very little drama, Sheeran's brief scene in the season seven premiere sparked a massive online debate. He explained that because the show was so beloved, anyone asked to be a part of it would have said yes instantly, just as he did. He genuinely enjoyed the filming process, but the public reaction was another story.
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Ed Sheeran pointed out the inconsistency in the fan outrage, noting that members of Coldplay were present during the infamous Red Wedding, and artists like Chris Stapleton and Gary Lightbody from 'Snow Patrol' also had cameos. By the time Sheeran appeared, the show had featured numerous bands, including Sigur Rós and Mastodon. He believes there were two main reasons why his role as a singing Lannister soldier touched a nerve.
Ed Sheeran Defends Backlash
First, Ed Sheeran acknowledged that he was everywhere in the media at that time, which likely made his sudden appearance in a fantasy world feel jarring to viewers. Secondly, he feels that this kind of reaction has become a recurring theme in his career, suggesting that he often becomes a target for criticism regardless of what he does.
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At the time of the episode's release in 2017, Sheeran was at the absolute height of his fame, having just released his massive album 'Divide' and the hit single 'Shape of You.' While the memory was eventually clouded by the internet's negativity, the cameo was originally intended as a special surprise for actress Maisie Williams, who is a big fan of his.
Even though the surprise was accidentally spoiled by Sophie Turner at Comic-Con before the episode aired, Ed Sheeran says he still cherishes the experience of being on set.
