Ed Sheeran, the British singer-songwriter who has become a global music icon, recently made a surprising revelation about his lifestyle. At 33, Sheeran is one of the world’s best-selling musicians, known for his chart-topping hits and record-breaking tours.
However, unlike many of his peers and fans, Sheeran has managed to stay disconnected from one of modern society’s most pervasive habits: smartphone usage. In a recent interview, he casually mentioned that he has not used an iPhone for nine years.
Sheeran’s decision to abstain from using an iPhone is a stark contrast to the norm in the entertainment industry, where social media presence and constant connectivity are often seen as essential for maintaining relevance and engaging with fans.
During an appearance on the Therapuss with Jake Shane podcast, Ed Sheeran revealed his phone-free lifestyle while offering to exchange emails with the host.
“I don’t have a number,” Sheeran explained.
“I’m not brushing you off. I haven’t had a phone since 2015.”
The Grammy winner, who shares two young children with his wife Cherry Seaborn, explained that he decided to ditch his phone after being inundated with texts following his rise to fame.
“I had the same number since I was about 15,” Sheeran said. “When I got famous, I had 10,000 contacts, and people were constantly texting me. I was always in touch with so many people.”
“With phones, everyone expects an immediate reply, and if you don’t respond, it’s seen as rude. Sometimes you’re just not in the right headspace to reply or you’re busy. But once you respond, they reply back, and suddenly you’re juggling 40 conversations at once.”
The “Perfect” singer boasts nearly 50 million followers on Instagram, though it seems his account is managed by his team.
