Ed Sheeran broke down in tears as he admitted he's 'still not over' the death of Jamal Edwards during an emotional performance of his new album.
The 32-year-old singer was performing an intimate show with Apple Music Live at the Eventim Apollo in London on Wednesday.
During the performance Ed admitted he 'wanted the world to stop' as he dedicated two songs to Jamal Edwards, who died age 31 in February 2022.
Ed shared his grief and admitted to the audience: "I'm still not over it, I don't want to be."
SBTV genius Jamal died from a heart attack after taking cocaine and drinking alcohol.
Shape Of You singer Ed dedicated songs Eyes Closed and Life Goes On to his friend Jamal, who were friends for years.
Ed told the audience, according to the Daily Mail: "The last time I was in this venue was with my friend Jamal, to see a comedy show, and I've not been here since.
"The first time I ever played this song, I cried when I introduced it, I cried at the start, I cried at the end and... I'm going to cry now."
The singer, who recently won a copyright trial over his song Thinking Out Loud, then broke down in tears and wiped his face with a towel before he went on to admit he found performing the songs "cathartic".
He added how he felt that songs were his until he "put them out there" and then they belong to his fans and notices when people post them to their social media pages and "relate" to the tunes.
Ed then remarked how "s*** just happens" during adulthood and "everyone goes through it".
Before performing his track, Life Goes On, he admitted: "I felt like when the Jamal passed away that I wanted the world to just stop, like it did when the Queen died."
Ed then added how he "didn't feel ready" and still doesn't – and explained how "every one expects you to feel sad for a week or two" before moving on.
He revealed: "I'm still not over it, and I don't want to be."
Ed has been incredibly open about his grief following the death of Jamal.
In March this year, Ed vowed never to do drugs again in an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine.
He candidly revealed that once upon a time, he used to take drugs twice a day – but he has now sworn off them forever after the shock of his best friend’s death.
The chart-topping singer said: "I would never, ever, ever touch anything again, because that’s how Jamal died.
"And that’s just disrespectful to his memory to even, like, go near."
Elsewhere, Ed explained: "I was always a drinker. I didn’t touch any sort of like, drug, until I was 24.
"I remember just being at a festival and being like, ‘Well, if all of my friends do it, it can’t be that bad.’ And then sort of dabbling. And then it just turns into a habit that you do once a week and then once a day and then, like, twice a day and then, like, without booze."
