In a revealing interview clip, Ed Sheeran opened up about his deeply personal rule when it comes to meeting musical idols: don’t force it.

“I’ve always had this rule,” Ed said. “I never want to meet someone I admire unless they genuinely want to meet me too. Otherwise, it just becomes a weird photo.”

That mindset was tested when he was working on an album with producer Rick Rubin, who happened to be collaborating with Eminem at the time. Rick offered to introduce them — but Ed declined.

Rather than chasing a rushed introduction, Ed chose to wait. Four years later, that patience paid off: Eminem reached out, saying he liked Ed’s music and wanted to collaborate.

“That moment meant more,” Ed said. “Because it wasn’t just a setup — it came from mutual respect.” Today, the two aren’t just collaborators. They’re friends.

In an industry known for fleeting fame and shallow connections, Ed Sheeran’s quiet rule proved powerful: sometimes, not meeting your heroes right away is how real relationships begin.