According to Ed Sheeran, the accusations that he plagiarized Marvin Gaye’s soul hit “Let’s Get it On” are “insulting,” and that he would stop performing if proven guilty.
As he took the witness stand in Manhattan federal court, the 32-year-old British singer-songwriter vehemently refuted allegations that he violated Gaye and his co-writer Ed Townsend’s 1973 hit when he wrote and composed the song “Thinking Out Loud.”
He even declared that he would stop playing music if the jury did find him guilty.
When questioned about the emotional toll the trial is having on him by his lawyer Ilene Farkas, Sheeran responded, “If that happens, I’m done, I’m stopping.”
The ‘Shape of You’ singer continued, “I find it really insulting to devote my entire life to being a performer and a songwriter and have someone diminish it.”
Townsend’s heirs are suing Sheeran on the grounds that the songs have “striking similarities.” They are requesting an enormous $100 million in restitution.