06 May 2023 , 11:03
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Ed Sheeran celebrated his recent trial win with an impromptu mini-concert in New York.
The 32-year-old was found not liable for copyright infringement by a Manhattan jury after the estate of Ed Townsend, who wrote and composed Marvin Gaye's hit track Let's Get It On, accused the star of ripping various elements of the song without credit or authorisation for his single Thinking Out Loud.
Following his victory, Ed made a pitstop outside his pop-up shop in Soho and whipped out his guitar as he was greeted by hundreds of fans.
He sang six songs, including Thinking Out Loud, which had been at the centre of the legal troubles.
Ed broke his silence after the court case with a powerful message to his accusers, stating that he wouldn't be used as a "piggy bank for someone to shake."
Ed Sheeran says 'turbulent things' have happened in personal life in rare video
Ed performed at his pop-up shop (SplashNews.com)
He recently won the trial (John Minchillo/AP/REX/Shutterstock)“We’ve spent the last eight years talking about two songs with dramatically different lyrics, melodies and four chords, which are also different and are used by songwriters every day, all over the world,” he said.
“They are in a songwriter’s alphabet, our toolkit, and should be there for all of us to use. No one owns them or the way they’re played in the same way no one owns the color blue.”
Ed performed six songs including Thinking Out Loud (SplashNews.com)“I’m just a guy with a guitar who loves writing music for people to enjoy. I am not and will never allow myself to be a piggy bank for someone to shake," he continued.
“Having to be in New York for this trial has meant that I’ve missed being with my family at my grandmother’s funeral in Ireland and I will never get that time back.”
Ed issued a powerful statement after is victory (Getty Images)Prior to the case, Ed has been sued twice but by separate artists, but both of those cases were settled in court.
He had previously explained that if he had lost the case brought by Ed Townsend's estate, he would quit music for good.
“If that happens, I’m done — I’m stopping,“ he stated. “I find it really insulting to work my whole life as a singer-songwriter and diminish it.“
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