Ed Sheeran has opened up about the toll the plagiarism lawsuit over his hit single “Shape of You” has taken on him.
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Last month, Sheeran and the song’s co-writers went to trial and faced accusations that they copied parts of Sami Chokri’s 2015 track “Oh Why.” Chokri, who performs as Sami Switch, and his co-writer Ross O’Donoghue argued that the “Oh I” hook from “Shape Of You” is similar to the “Oh Why” refrain in their song, The Independent reports.
On Wednesday, the judge presiding over the case ruled that Sheeran “neither deliberately nor subconsciously” copied a phrase from “Oh Why” when he was writing “Shape of You.”
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After the verdict, Sheeran released a video where he addressed the effects the lawsuit had on his mental wellbeing.
“There is a cost on our mental health,” Sheeran continued. “The stress this causes on all sides is immense. It affects so many aspects of our everyday lives and the lives of our families and friends. We are not corporations. We are not entities. We are human beings. We are songwriters. We do not want to diminish the hurt and pain anyone has suffered through this, and at the same time, we feel it is important to acknowledge that we too have had our own hurts and life struggles throughout the course of this process.”
Audacy's I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-273-8255.