Ed Sheeran Revealed Why He Hasn't "Had A Phone Since 2015," And It's One Of The Best Takes I've Heard In A Very Long Time

Ed Sheeran Revealed Why He Hasn't "Had A Phone Since 2015," And It's One Of The Best Takes I've Heard In A Very Long Time

Ed Sheeran "got rid" of his cellphone almost a decade ago, and I think he might be on to something.

Ed Sheeran in a light-colored suit with metallic accents, standing indoors and smiling at the camera

You won't catch the 33-year-old Grammy-Award-winning artist doom scrolling on a Thursday afternoon because he's a mobile device-free.

Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

On the June 5 episode of Therapuss with Jake Shane, Ed admitted, "I haven't had a phone since 2015," and I'm shocked.

A man in a suit stands in front of a wooden backdrop featuring the text
A man in a suit stands in front of a wooden backdrop featuring the text

Christopher Polk / Variety via Getty Images, Miikka Skaffari / FilmMagic

Ed revealed his cellphone freedom when the host, Jake, offered to exchange phone numbers. "I don't have a number, but you can have my email," Ed said before adding, "That isn't me playing you off either."

Ed Sheeran and another person sit on a couch, talking into microphones. Ed Sheeran is wearing a white t-shirt and has tattoos on his arm

The "Shape of You" singer's team recently gave him a phone for necessary moments, like when he attended the Boston Celtics game courtside with singer Reneé Rapp for the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday, May 23.

Ed Sheeran and Cherry Seaborn sitting courtside at a basketball game, smiling and holding drinks. Both wear casual white shirts; Ed has neon green sneakers
Nathaniel S. Butler / NBAE via Getty Images

"I have something to like video stuff that would then go up on social media," he said. "But it's not like an active working phone."

Ed Sheeran and Cherry Seaborn sit courtside at a basketball game, holding drinks and watching the game attentively, with people seated around them
Brian Babineau / NBAE via Getty Images

Ed said he decided to get rid of his phone around December 2015 after realizing he had too many contacts from before he rose to fame. "I had the same number from like age 15, I think," he said, "and I got famous, and I had 10,000 contacts in my phone that would just — people would just text the whole time. And I was just constantly in touch with a lot of people."

Man with fair hair wearing a white T-shirt and dark trousers, featuring colorful tattoos on his arms, standing in front of a backdrop with brand logos
Kevin Winter / Getty Images

"I feel like with phones, everyone expects you to reply, and if you don't reply, it's rude," he said.

"Sometimes you're just not in a headspace to reply, you're busy or doing whatever," Ed continued, "but then you reply, then they reply back… and suddenly you're in like 40 conversations at once."

Ed Sheeran gestures while sitting at a console, surrounded by people and screens in the background
Mark Thompson / Getty Images

Ed discovered "a better way" to "limit your time" texting and being hooked on your phone by switching to email. "I just was losing real-life interaction, so I got rid of [my phone], I got an iPad, I moved everything onto email, which I reply to once a week."

Ed Sheeran smiles, wearing a patterned jacket over a black top. He stands in front of a quilted background

"On a Thursday or Friday, I sit down, usually in the car. I blast all the emails. Catch up. Do all the talking to whoever... and that's it," Ed continued. "You can really limit your time."

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

"I went to dinner after the Celtics yesterday, and you just leave your iPad in your hotel room. I had dinner with my best friend. We caught up, had a long chat and that was it."

Ed Sheeran holds a foam finger at a basketball game, sitting beside two smiling men. A coach stands in the foreground
Boston Globe / Boston Globe via Getty Images

"No one expects a reply to an email instantly," Ed said. "It's a cultural thing when the What's App tick happens, and then you have to reply." According to Ed, you can avoid people being upset over being "left on read" with an email that lowers the expectation of an instant response.

Ed Sheeran at a red carpet event wearing a casual black jacket over a white shirt, smiling at the camera
Dave Benett / Sama Kai/Dave Benett / WireImage

Ed concluded that without a smartphone, he's exposed to "boredom," which is when the best ideas are created. "When you're just sitting doing nothing... that's when I think of a lyric or a melody, or you'll have an idea about where to go next in your career."

Ed Sheeran performing on stage with a guitar, wearing sunglasses, a black Offspring t-shirt, and dark pants
Steve Jennings / Getty Images

"Nothing creative has ever come out of being connected the whole time. Boredom is what makes someone think of an iPhone."

Ed Sheeran performing on stage, holding a guitar and singing into a microphone. He is wearing a casual T-shirt and jeans
Simone Joyner / Getty Images

Sure, Ed has a way with lyrics, but he's not too bad with life coaching. It's a fair observation about our obsession with instant communication and adjusting to our current cellphone-driven lifestyles. I think I should "email" my parents every week instead of texting.

Ed Sheeran at an event, wearing a light blue shirt and a matching silk suit jacket with rhinestone detailing
John Shearer / WireImage

Cheers Ed!

Watch the full episode below.