Ed Sheeran Shares Story Of Battling Depression After Death Of Best Friend Jamal Edwards And Close Friend Shane Warne
Ed Sheeran has revealed what it felt like to lose his best friend, Jamal Edwards, to death. In an interview with Rolling Stone, the star shared that the loss was so hard on him that he battled suicidal thoughts.
Jamal, a music producer, died last year at the age of 31 from a cardiac arrest caused by cocaine and alcohol. The death really affected Ed, who said he was left grappling for help.
“My best friend died. And he shouldn’t have done,” he stated.
The month after Jamal’s death, another close friend of Ed, Australian cricketer Shane Warne, also died. When that happened, the Shape Of You singer felt like he was “drowning.”
Describing how tough a time he had, he revealed that 2022 was the year he had to face his demons. “‘I’ve always had real lows in my life. But it wasn’t really till last year that I actually addressed it,” he stated.
“I felt like I didn’t want to live anymore. And I have had that throughout my life.… You’re under the waves drowning. You’re just sort of in this thing. And you can’t get out of it,” he added.
Ed also shared that he suffered feelings of shame around his depression and suicidal thoughts as they felt “selfish,” considering he had children. “I feel really embarrassed about it,” he says now.
The award-winning singer now has a better grasp of his issues after seeing a therapist, thanks to a nudge from his wife, Cherry Seaborn.
It must have been hard for him at first, as he says that “No one really talks about their feelings where I come from. ‘People think it’s weird getting a therapist in England.”
Now able to cope with his feelings better, Ed now believes in the importance of therapy as he thinks “it’s very helpful to be able to speak with someone and just vent and not feel guilty about venting.”
“‘The help isn’t a button that is pressed, where you’re automatically OK. It is something that will always be there and just has to be managed,” he explains.
Jamal’s death left an impact on Ed, who has sworn never to return to drugs as he believes that would be disrespectful to the memory of his dear friend, who died from a mix of cocaine and alcohol.
The singer paid tribute to his late friend earlier this year with a freestyle filmed at Stamford Bridge, which houses Jamal’s favorite football club, Chelsea.
