Ed Sheeran has responded to TVNZ 1 Breakfast host Hayley Holt's criticism of him, saying not everyone's going to like his music and he respects her for having an opinion.
Holt recently took aim at the singer-songwriter as the Breakfast team was discussing a decision by a Dunedin-ratapayer funded organisation to spend more than $8000 on a mural of Sheeran.
"Ed Sheeran seems like a lovely person, but he's so boring," Holt said.
"He just tries to suck up to us by wearing All Blacks shirts, and now we're sucking up to him by putting up a giant picture of his mug.
"He does my head in."
The British superstar was diplomatic after a powhiri at Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium this afternoon ahead of the first of three concerts there.
"Like, not everyone's gonna like my music and I don't begrudge her for that," Sheeran told 1 NEWS.
"Like, I actually respect that she has an opinion you know?"
Hayley took aim at the English pop star – and didn't miss.
The much-debated mural of Sheeran in Dunedin includes a love-heart tattoo of Hayley Holt.
Today's powhiri was the first Sheeran has experienced, and he was impressed.
"I really liked it and I'm really grateful that they came down today and did I," he said.
Meanwhile the star won't be attending the upcoming royal wedding.
Asked have Prince Harry and Meghan Markle invited him to the wedding, Sheeran replied: "I'm doing shows, I'm on tour. I'm gonna be playing Ireland then.
Sheeran travels to Dunedin next week where he plays on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
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