There were many controversial moments in the final seasons of the HBO series, but the Ed Sheeran cameo was a surprise that didn't sit well with viewers. Sheeran is an award-winning and hugely popular singer/songwriter who appeared in season 7's "Dragonstone" of the HBO fantasy series based on the novels by George R. R. Martin. As unexpected as the moment was, the story behind the Ed Sheeran cameo helps to explain the random appearance, even if it doesn't quite help with how the moment was received.
Aside from veteran actors like Sean Bean and Charles Dance, the was mostly made up of lesser-known actors who shot to fame thanks to the popularity of the series.
This fresh-faced ensemble worked well, but it was all the more noticeable on the rare occasions when a more familiar face would pop up on the show. This was certainly the case with the Ed Sheeran cameo which was met with a rather negative response and a lot of questions about why the famous singer was brought onto the show in the first place.
The singer's immense popularity at the time was a major factor in , but it was also done as a treat for a cast member. During a South by Southwest panel from 2017 (), creators D.B. Weiss and David Benioff confirmed Sheeran's cameo came to be as a surprise for Maisie Williams, who played Arya. Since she was a major fan of the singer, Weiss and Benioff attempted to score the cameo for years, and it finally came to fruition for season 7.
Rather than a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance, Sheeran was given a speaking part, including an opportunity to sing a song. Of course, Williams had to be involved in the sequence to carry out the cameo considering she was the driving force behind the casting.
Despite only appearing in one episode of , the fate of Sheeran's character was revealed in season 8. Eddie and fellow members of the Lannister army were present for the Battle of Goldroad, in which Daenerys found victory with the help of Drogon. According to prostitutes hired by Bronn, Eddie survived but suffered serious burns, including the loss of his eyelids. It's unclear if the legacy surrounding Sheeran's role led to Eddie's fate as the buzz-worthy
cameo didn't go well.
With on the horizon, thecreators may be eager to add new celebrity cameos into the mix. Weiss and Benioff made a smart decision by keeping their celebrity appearances brief and primarily musicians, rather than big-name celebrities. That being said, the spinoff series' creators might be wary of another Sheeran-esque disaster. at least added an interesting layer to the special appearance by explaining Eddie's dire fate.
Though Ed Sheeran's cameo was certainly the highest profile of the series, the show has featured a lot of appearances from musicians.
In fact, there are several cast members on the show whose musical careers are as prolific as their acting careers. Kristian Nairn, who plays Hodor, is a long-time guitar player and DJ. Alfie Allen, who portrays Theon Greyjoy, is the brother of popular British pop singer Lily Allen.
In addition, the Hold Steady version of the Westerosi song "The Bear and the Maiden Fair" appears in season 3, episode 3, "The Walk of Punishment." Either way, Ed Sheeran isn't the only musician to make an appearance in the popular medieval fantasy series.
In various episodes throughout seasons 4 and 5, Joel Fry of the alt-pop band Animal Circus appeared as the recurring character Hizdahr zo Loraq.
The character was previously a slaveholder in Meereen, and was briefly betrothed to Daenerys Targaryen. Coldplay drummer Will Champion also appeared in the infamous episode "Rains of Castamere where he helped play the Westerosi song "The Rains of Castamere" just before .
Dr. Feelgood's Wilko Johnson is in various episodes of seasons 1 and 2 as the man who executed Ned Stark, Ser Ilyn Payne. Michiel Huisman of the Dutch band Fontane also shows up in several episodes, but this time during seasons 4-6 as sellsword Daario Naharis. The entire band Mastodon appears in season 5's "Hardhome" as wildlings.
These cameos are only a drop in the bucket, as members of bands like Of Monsters and Men, Raleigh Ritchie, Sigur Rós, and Snow Patrol also appear, among many others.
While it was nothing compared to the , Ed Sheeran's cameo was not warmly received by fans when it aired. Despite the sweet reasoning behind the appearance, many fans heavily criticized the moment for being distracting. While it is unfair to put the blame on Sheeran himself or to vilify the showrunners who wanted to include him in a small role, it is easy to see where some of the backlash came from.
There are faults in the series to be sure, but one thing did so well from beginning to end was to immerse the audience in this new world. Using George R.R. Martin's rich source material, the show excelled at world-building while still being accessible to the viewers. As it turns out, the reality of Westeros they built was delicate and Sheeran's cameo momentarily shattered it. While the show managed to include recognizable actors like Ian McShane or Max von Sydow, Sheeran is a figure fans know exclusively in a modern setting.
The image of seeing one of the biggest pop stars on the planet appearing on
dressed as a Lannister soldier broke the illusion of the show. It did not help that Sheeran sang a song during his cameo, further reminding fans who he was and that he didn't belong in this world. However, well-intentioned the appearance might have been, it seems it was a misguided cameo that was not well-suited for.
