Ed Sheeran has once again opened up about his brief but highly debated cameo in Game of Thrones, admitting that his appearance as a Lannister soldier “definitely ruffled some feathers” among fans. In a recent episode of Benny Blanco’s Friends Keep Secrets podcast, alongside co-host Lil Dicky, the singer reflected candidly on the 2017 cameo in season 7 of the series.
Quick read:
• Ed Sheeran appeared on Game of Thrones in 2017
• He has once again discussed receiving hate for his cameo appearance
• Despite that, he had fun being on the show
Credits: HBO
The Joy and the criticism: Ed Sheeran’s honest take on Game of Thrones
Ed Sheeran firstly explained his decision to say yes to being on the show:
“People love that show. If anyone gets asked to be on that show, it’s an instant yes. I said yes. I enjoyed doing it.”
He emphasized the fun of the experience and noted that other musicians have had similar cameos without the same level of scrutiny. He mentioned celebrities like members of Coldplay being at the Red Wedding, Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol, and Chris Stapleton as a White Walker. However, he acknowledged why his own appearance stood out negatively:
“At that time I was very omnipresent and just everywhere, so I think it was quite jarring.”
When Benny Blanco directly asked, “Did you get sh*t on for that?”
Sheeran confirmed:
“Yeah. I got a lot though. I feel like that happens quite a lot in my career. I would just get sh*t on for things.”
Sheeran has addressed the controversy in multiple interviews over the years, previously telling outlets like The Hollywood Reporter that the backlash “muddied his joy”. Despite the criticism, he has consistently defended the day on set as positive and the role as fitting for the vibe.
The reason behind Ed Sheeran receiving backlash
Ed Sheeran received significant hate and backlash for his cameo in Game of Thrones season 7, episode 1 “Dragonstone,” where he appeared briefly as a Lannister soldier singing by a campfire alongside Arya Stark (Maisie Williams). The cameo drew criticism from many fans at the time and has remained controversial years later.
Some reasons for the hate were his recognisable face and modern celebrity status, which pulled viewers out of the medieval fantasy world of Westeros, making the scene feel like a distracting stunt. Ed Sheeran was at the peak of his fame and popularity at that time and hence considered that as one of the reasons for receiving much hate. Apart from this, the camera lingered noticeably on him, even during other dialogue, which made it feel forced and unsubtle.
Despite everything, this cameo remains one of the most talked-about minor moments in Game of Thrones history, proving that even a quick scene can spark lasting debate in a passionate fandom.
