Ed Sheeran Says US Award Shows Are ‘Uncomfortable,’ ‘Filled With Resentment And Hatred’

Ed Sheeran, who recently performed at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards, compared the atmosphere of the U.S. and U.K. award shows and noted that American award shows are “uncomfortable” and often full of people giving each other the "side-eye."

"The room is filled with resentment and hatred toward everyone else and it's quite an uncomfortable atmosphere," the 30-year-old singer said about the U.S. award shows during an appearance on Audacy’s "The Julia Show" on Wednesday.

Sheeran, however, clarified that all the "artists are sweet people, but they're like, surrounded by entourages that want them to win too." He described the atmosphere and said that each artist is often surrounded by ten people and "everyone is kind of giving each other the side-eye."

The singer noted that his remarks were not specifically about the MTV award show but regarding all American award shows, including Billboards, GRAMMYs… AMAs (American Music Awards).

"It’s just lots of people wanting other people to fail and I don’t like that," he noted. According to the British singer, this isn't something he's ever experienced back home.

"In England, our award shows are just like, every one gets drunk and no one really cares who wins or loses, it’s just sort of a good night out."

Sheeran also noted that he is not the only artist who feels this way. In fact, he revealed people get the same feeling as him at these award shows.

"I've spoken to people and they're like, 'I just felt really depressed afterward.' The atmosphere is just not nice… It's a really, really horrible atmosphere to be in there. I always walk away feeling sad and I don't like it," he said.

Sheeran continued to explain the after-party vibe too and said, "The after-parties, again… it’s not just musicians. It’s musicians, all their entourages, then you got influencers and blah blah blah."

At the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, the singer performed his newly released music track, "Shivers." The music video was released on Sept. 10.

Sheeran also took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a video of him playing "Shivers" for his 34 million followers. "Thanks for the reaction on Shivers this week x," he wrote in the caption.