Ed Sheeran says he was ‘annoyed’ by backlash after saying he ‘identifies culturally as Irish’

Ed Sheeran admitted he was annoyed by the backlash

Sheeran came under fire after telling The Louis Theroux Podcast that he identifies as Irish.

He told the podcast host, "I think that’s what I grew up with.”

"My first musical experiences were in Ireland, where I grew up with trad music in the house. So I identify culturally as Irish, but I was obviously born and raised in Britain."

His comments were poorly received, but Sheeran stressed that nobody can change how he feels about his childhood.

He told 2FM's Tracy Clifford:

"I do understand it, but also like no one can tell me what my childhood was or what the culture that I grew up with.

“Or the music I grew up with, or the humour I grew up with, or the movies I grew up with, or anything.”

“I grew up with it… Therefore, it’s part of me, and I feel like it’s part of my culture and who the f**k is anyone else to tell me what is and isn’t how I feel, you know?"

Sheeran acknowledged that the anger may have come from the juxtaposition between being British but identifying as Irish.

“There’s such a class between those two cultures, and I think that’s where the confusion or anger might come from.”

His comments come after Sheeran surprised fans at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Co. Wexford.

The international superstar played a pop-up performance in the iconic Sky & The Ground pub, where he sang his hit songs Castle on the Hill, Don’t, I Don’t Care, and Nancy Mulligan.