Ed Sheeran calls out fellow musicians for lip-syncing on stage: 'They would never admit it…'

Ed Sheeran says he always sings live and can't mime due to his loop pedal setup. Ed Sheeran calls out lip-syncing in live performances as a common music industry practice. The Grammy-winning artist shares candid thoughts on musicians who mime but rarely admit it during his Mathematics Tour in Europe.

During a lighthearted segment on a Beta Squad YouTube video, Ed Sheeran was challenged to identify the voices of famous singers. When one participant confessed she'd consider lip-syncing if her voice wasn't perfect, Ed quipped, "I don't know if a professional singer would admit to miming."

Another contestant chimed in, asking, "I thought a lot of professional artists do that though?" Ed Sheeran acknowledged this, but added, "They don’t admit to it though."

When questioned about lip-syncing in his own career, Sheeran explained that he doesn't have that option because of his distinct performance setup. "I can’t get away with it because it’s me with a loop pedal and a guitar," he said. "But I would never cancel a show for my voice. I’d always push through, even if it was, like, slightly raspy."

Sheeran doubled down on his point, stating, “I feel like if you are a professional singer, even if you do mime—because there are professional singers that mime, but they would never admit that they mime."

The "Shape of You" singer is celebrated for his straightforward, authentic stage presence, frequently captivating large stadium audiences with just his vocals, guitar, and loop pedal. His candidness about industry practices has reignited discussions about the genuineness of live performances.

Ed Sheeran is currently on the European leg of his Mathematics Tour, which began in 2022. He is set to perform next at Middenvijver Park in Antwerp, Belgium, on August 7.

Ed Sheeran recently delighted fans by performing a mix of original songs and traditional Irish tunes at a music and arts festival in Wexford town.

The singer-songwriter joined Irish bands Amble, BIIRD, Beoga, and Aaron Rowe at The Sky and The Ground pub on Tuesday night, as part of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.