Ed Sheeran Opens Up About Controversial Game of Thrones Appearance
Ed Sheeran has candidly addressed the significant backlash he faced following his cameo in the acclaimed series Game of Thrones, acknowledging that he 'definitely ruffled some feathers' with his brief role. The 35-year-old singer-songwriter made a memorable appearance in season seven, portraying a Lannister soldier who leads a campfire singing session. This scene occurred as Arya Stark journeyed to King's Landing with intentions to assassinate Cersei.
Fan Disruption and Celebrity Comparisons
During the episode, Sheeran performed a tune titled Hands of Gold, aiming to entertain the fictional army. However, the moment was met with a decidedly negative reception from viewers, many of whom argued it was disruptive and pulled them out of the immersive world of Westeros. In a recent interview on Benny Blanco's podcast, Friends Keep Secrets, Sheeran confessed to the controversy, stating, 'I feel like I definitely ruffled some feathers being in Game of Thrones.'
Despite the criticism, the Give Me Love star defended his decision to accept the role, insisting that anyone offered such an opportunity on the HBO juggernaut would eagerly say yes. He pointed out that Game of Thrones has a history of featuring celebrity cameos, including members of Coldplay, bands like Of Monsters And Men and Sigur Rós, as well as actors such as Rob McElhenney and singer Sophie-Ellis Bexter.
Omnipresence and Career Context
Sheeran speculated that the timing of his cameo contributed to the fan irritation, as it coincided with a period when he was particularly ubiquitous in the public eye. He had just released his best-selling album Divide, featuring the hit single Shape of You, which became the first song to achieve 2 billion streams on Spotify. 'I think at the time I was very omnipresent and just everywhere,' he admitted. 'So, I think it was quite jarring.'
When asked about the backlash, Sheeran emphatically declared, 'Yeah, I got a lot,' but added that such reactions are common in his career. He noted, 'A lot of it was in that year with Divide and I think it's because I was omnipresent and just everywhere.'
Behind the Scenes and Industry Reactions
The cameo was orchestrated by Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss as a surprise for actress Maisie Williams, who portrayed Arya Stark. Sheeran revealed that they had been attempting to secure his appearance on the show 'for years.' Prior to this role, he had showcased his acting skills in projects like The Bastard Executioner in 2015, as well as appearances on Home And Away, Shortland Street, and Bridget Jones' Baby.
Filmed in November 2016, Sheeran initially described the experience as 'really fun,' but later admitted on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast that 'people’s reactions to it sort of muddied my joy.' The backlash even extended to fellow cast members, with Hodor actor Kristian Nairn publicly criticizing the cameo in a 2018 interview, stating it took viewers 'right out of the world.'
Long-Term Impact and Future Projects
Although there were reports that Sheeran quit Twitter due to trolling over the cameo, he denied this, asserting his departure was planned and calling his appearance 'clearly f****n’ awesome.' However, by 2021, the Grammy award-winner admitted the reaction had made him 'more careful' about accepting film and TV cameos. He explained on Absolute Radio, 'Game of Thrones was like bittersweet because I feel like I p****d a lot of people by being in that, but anytime I meet someone that is like, 'Oh, you cameod on that show,' I’m like, 'What would you say?' Everyone would say yes.'
Despite the caution, Sheeran has continued to make appearances in major films, including Yesterday, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Red Notice, Sumotherhood, and most recently, Zootopia 2, demonstrating his ongoing versatility in the entertainment industry.
