Ed Sheeran has doubled down on his comments about his cultural identity, telling critics that no one can define his childhood or heritage, per nme.com. The pop superstar, who was born and raised in England but has an Irish father, recently sparked a debate after stating on the Louis Theroux Podcast that he “identifies culturally as Irish.”
In a recent interview on The Tracy Clifford Show, Sheeran addressed the backlash, acknowledging that some of the criticism likely comes from a place of “gatekeeping.” However, he fiercely defended his right to claim his Irish identity, saying, “no one can tell me what my childhood was, or what the culture that I grew up with.”
He added that his upbringing was steeped in Irish music, humor, and traditions, and that this experience makes it “part of my culture.”
Sheeran’s remarks come as he prepares to release his new album, “Play,” on September 12. As part of the album’s campaign, he has been connecting with fans through a series of surprise, intimate gigs. This included a recent impromptu performance at The Sky And The Ground Pub in Wexford, Ireland, where he played a mix of his own songs and traditional Irish folk tunes to a packed crowd.
