Famous singer Ed Sheeran arrived at a Manhattan federal courthouse Tuesday to stand trial in his own defense, after being accused of stealing a song from Marvin Gaye.
Gaye’s estate alleged that Sheeran’s single “Thinking Out Loud” was ripped off from Gaye’s 1973 hit, “Lets Get it On,” according to TMZ. Gaye’s representatives filed the lawsuit in 2017, accusing Sheeran of copying the soul classic without authorization, and using it in his 2014 hit, according to TMZ. Sheeran has denied all allegations and is prepared to take the stand and testify in this case.
Ed Sheeran arrives to court for a trial after being accused of ripping off a Marvin Gaye song. https://t.co/EBJALVYxOb
— TMZ (@TMZ) April 25, 2023
Fans and paparazzi swarmed the exterior of the courthouse as reporters attempted to stop Sheeran and obtain a comment about this trial, which is finally moving forward after multiple delays.
Sheeran dressed smartly in a suit and tie and walked quickly past the crowd that had gathered to catch a glimpse before he entered the building, per TMZ.(RELATED: Four Artists And Two Record Labels Named In Lawsuit Over Song Rights)
This case will be tried by a jury that has been instructed to compare the two songs against one another with a focus on the melody, harmony, and rhythm and to consider any witness testimony on the stand, including Sheeran’s own defense.