The performer reported his dislike of the events after performing at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York on Sunday. In an interview with Audacity’s The Julia Show he shared that he always comes away from the events feeling sad.
"The room is filled with resentment and hatred towards everyone else and it's quite an uncomfortable atmosphere," he said. "All the artists are sweet people, but they're like, surrounded by entourages that want them to win too, so it's one artist surrounded by 10 people and another artist surrounded by 10 people and everyone is kind of giving each other the side eye.
"People get the same feeling as me at those award shows. I've spoken to people and they're like, 'I just felt really depressed afterwards.' The atmosphere is just not nice... It's a really, really horrible atmosphere to be in there. I always walk away feeling sad and I don't like it."
He elaborated that he felt this way about all awards shows, not just the VMAs, suggesting that the rooms are full of "lots of people wanting other people to fail", and insisted the after-parties were no different.
Sheeran later added that he thinks awards shows in the UK are more enjoyable because they facilitate more of a party-like atmosphere.
"In England, our award shows are just like, everyone gets drunk and no one really cares who wins or loses, it's just sort of a good night out," he explained.
