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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
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Phoebe Jobling & Susan Knox

Ed Sheeran took drugs 'twice a day' but has vowed to 'never touch anything again' after Jamal Edwards death

Ed Sheeran has vowed he will 'never touch anything again' after admitting he used to take drugs 'twice a day' prior to his friend Jamal Edwards' death. The world renowned singer has opened up for the first time about his drug use as he admitting the substances became 'bad for him'

The singer songwriter, 32, has also revealed he was left feeling like 'he didn't want to live anymore' after the tragic passing of his friend Jamal. The music entrepreneur, who founded the music platform SBTV in 2006 which helped launch Ed's career, died in February 2022 at the age of just 31.

Back in August 2022, an inquest found that Jamal, who is the son of Loose Women panellist Brenda Edwards, died after a cardiac arrest brought on by taking cocaine and drinking. The inquest heard how three small snap bags containing small traces of white powder were found on Jamal after he collapsed.

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Following the tragic death of his best friend, pop artist Ed has now vowed to never touch drugs again, reports the Mirror.

Ed, who recently released an emotional track in tribute to his late friend, said that it would be disrespectful to ever play around with substances again after Jamal tragically lost his life to drugs.

In a candid interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, Ed revealed 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."

Discussing his drug use in detail for the first time, Ed confessed that he first started taking them in his mid-20s, and then gradually became hooked on them

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.“

Ed went on to say that doing drugs just 'became bad vibes' for him eventually.

The singing sensation also recently confessed that he 'didn't want to live anymore' after Jamal's death, and after his wife Cherry was diagnosed with a tumour while she was pregnant with their second child.

Jamal Edwards died aged 31 (Getty Images)

Earlier this year, Ed delivered an emotional tribute to the late SBTV founder Jamal in a beautiful track which was released online.

Wearing a blue jumper and jeans, the music icon begins to rap: “Yo Jam, this is a letter to you, it's been a while but it's been hard for me to get in the booth.

“Since we last spoke I've become a father of two trying to live life with a smile but that's been harder to do. Because all I want to do is talk about you, but these tears won't let me talk about you. We should have known that we'd be lost without you.“

Shortly after Jamal’s death, Sheeran shared an Instagram post of the younger-looking pair with the caption: “I haven’t posted anything coz I can’t find the words, I can’t reply coz I don’t know what to say.

“Jamal is my brother. His light shone so bright. He only used it to illuminate others and never asked for anything in return.

“A star’s light shines for millions of years after they go, and his will continue to light up every dark moment, we are all witnessing his power. I would not be here without him, professionally and personally.

“There will never be anything close to what he is, but I’m so grateful to have existed within his orbit. My brother, come on.”

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