Ed Sheeran's bitter family rift as star faces backlash for identity confession
Ed Sheeran's confession that he identifies culturally as Irish caused backlash online, but his heritage comes after his grandparents' love story which was portrayed in his hit tune, Nancy Mulligan
Ed Sheeran has faced backlash following his candid interview with Louis Theroux, in which the singer claimed he 'identifies culturally' as Irish. The Shape of You star, 34, opened up to the journalist on his podcast, revealing his family's heritage.
Ed, who was born in Halifax and raised in Suffolk before moving to London to pursue his dreams, recalled his childhood holidays to Ireland. He explained to Louis how his dad, one of eight siblings, is from Belfast. He was born to Nancy Mulligan and William Sheeran.
While Nancy was a Catholic from the Republic of Ireland, William was a Protestant who was born in Northern Ireland. The duo fell in love during the Second World War, with their connection causing tension on both sides of the family.
Despite the furore from their families, Nancy and William enjoyed a marriage spanning almost seven decades. William died in 2013, while Ed mourned his grandmother's death in 2023, aged 98.
The bitter fallout was Ed's inspiration behind his huge hit from 2017 titled after his grandmother. During her funeral, Ed's dad referenced the love story in his speech.
He said: "Mum met Dad, a dental student, at a Guy's nurses' home party. Friendship turned into love, but the Northern Ireland Presbyterian side of dad's family did their utmost to end the relationship.
"Their wedding was attended by only one family member – mum's twin sister Peggy. They lived above that dental surgery in South London with a growing family. Eventually five boys and three girls. Mum joked to us that she had originally wanted 11 children so she could feel the football or cricket team."
Speaking of his heritage, Ed told The Louis Theroux Podcast. "I class my culture as Irish. I think that's what I grew up with. My mum's family is very, very small, it's her and her parents, and my dad's family is… he's got seven brothers and sisters.
"We'd spend all of our holidays in Ireland. My first musical experiences were in Ireland, I grew up with trad music in the house. So I identify culturally as Irish, but I was obviously born and raised in Britain.".
He added: "I do feel like my culture is something that I'm really proud of and grew up with and want to express. And I feel like just because I was born in Britain doesn't necessarily mean that I have to just be (British), there's loads of people I know that are half this or quarter this."
He also admitted the country was "basically my second home musically". " I'd say Ireland is the place that I am most successful musically," he claimed.
However, he was met with mixed response to his comments online. "They can have him," one Twitter /X user fumed. "Why can't he just identify as himself," asked another.
There were comments of support too, though, with one user explaining: "It's not where you're born. It's your bloodline that determines what you are.
"Cliff Richard was born in India. Is he Indian? You can be born anywhere in the world. That doesn't automatically make you part of that culture."
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