Brit Awards 2018: Elton John Struggles To Pronounce 'Dear Friend' Ed Sheeran's Name

And it definitely did not go unnoticed.
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Although he wasn’t actually in attendance, Sir Elton John still wound up getting people talking during this year’s Brit Awards, thanks to a pre-recorded video message that aired during the ceremony.

Sir Elton was called on to introduce Ed Sheeran, who was the recipient of this year’s Global Success award, honouring the British act who had made the biggest splash overseas in the last 12 months.

However, despite claiming in his video that he’d been chosen to introduce Ed because of their close friendship, it seemed the ‘Rocket Man’ singer actually had a bit of difficulty pronouncing his name, because, erm…

 

And whether it was an accidental slip-up or a private joke he decided to include in the video, Sir Elton’s faux pas did not go unnoticed by Brits viewers at home, particularly due to their supposed close friendship...

At least we know Sir Elton is definitely familiar with Ed, as he stuck up for him earlier this month when ‘Shape Of You’ was seemingly snubbed by the Grammys.

He fumed at the time: “Shape Of You is probably the most successful single in the whole world last year. That it wasn’t nominated, is, to me, a travesty.

“But it’s all about politics. I don’t understand it. I never have understood awards shows.”

Ed did wind up taking home two Grammys on the night, though, but his victory didn’t sit well with everybody.

And while he did pick up Global Success at the Brits, the ceremony wasn’t quite the cake-walk for the ‘Galway Singer’ some might have thought, as he ended up losing out in all four of the categories he was nominated in.

Brit Awards 2018 Red Carpet
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018 *** Liam Payne and Cheryl Cole attend The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/WireImage) (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018 *** Ed Sheeran attends The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/WireImage) (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018*** Singer Rita Ora attends The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) (credit:John Phillips via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Stormzy arrives in an Audi for the BRIT Awards at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Audi UK) (credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018 *** (L to R) Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jesy Nelson and Perrie Edwards of Little Mix attend The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images) (credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)
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British singer-songwriter Sam Smith poses on the red carpet on arrival for the BRIT Awards 2018 in London on February 21, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMEN / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE NO POSTERS NO MERCHANDISE NO USE IN PUBLICATIONS DEVOTED TO ARTISTS (Photo credit should read TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TOLGA AKMEN via Getty Images)
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Paloma Faith attending the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena, London. Photo credit should read: Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment (credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
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Caroline Flack attending the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena, London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images) (credit:Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018 *** Holly Willoughby attends The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images) (credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018*** (2ndL-R) Jennifer Hudson, Tom Jones and Olly Murs attend The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) (credit:John Phillips via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018*** Jessie Ware attends The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) (credit:John Phillips via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018 *** Emma Bunton attends The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) (credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018*** Calvin Harris attends The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) (credit:John Phillips via Getty Images)
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Roman Kemp attending the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena, London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images) (credit:Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018 *** Jess Glynne attends The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) (credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018 *** Alesha Dixon attends The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/WireImage) (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
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British indie rock band 'Wolf Alice', Ellie Rowsell (2nd R), Joff Oddie, Theo Ellis, and Joel Amey pose on the red carpet on arrival for the BRIT Awards 2018 in London on February 21, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMEN / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE NO POSTERS NO MERCHANDISE NO USE IN PUBLICATIONS DEVOTED TO ARTISTS (Photo credit should read TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TOLGA AKMEN via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018*** Anne Marie and Grace Chatto of Clean Bandit attend The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) (credit:John Phillips via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018 *** MNEK attends The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images) (credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)
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Jo Whiley attending the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena, London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images) (credit:Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images)
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Professor Green attending the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena, London. Photo credit should read: Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment (credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
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British rock band 'Royal Blood', Mike Kerr (R) and Ben Thatcher (L) pose on the red carpet on arrival for the BRIT Awards 2018 in London on February 21, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMEN / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE NO POSTERS NO MERCHANDISE NO USE IN PUBLICATIONS DEVOTED TO ARTISTS (Photo credit should read TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TOLGA AKMEN via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018*** Nicola Roberts attends The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) (credit:John Phillips via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018 *** Amber Davies attends The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Joe Maher/FilmMagic) (credit:Joe Maher via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Ellie Goulding arrives in an Audi for the BRIT Awards at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Audi UK) (credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018 *** Conor Maynard attends The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) (credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018 *** Gemma Atkinson attends The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) (credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018 *** Tom Walker attends The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images) (credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)
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British singer-songwriter Anne-Marie poses on the red carpet on arrival for the BRIT Awards 2018 in London on February 21, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMEN / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE NO POSTERS NO MERCHANDISE NO USE IN PUBLICATIONS DEVOTED TO ARTISTS (Photo credit should read TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TOLGA AKMEN via Getty Images)
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Spanish-born singer-songwriter Mabel poses on the red carpet on arrival for the BRIT Awards 2018 in London on February 21, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMEN / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE NO POSTERS NO MERCHANDISE NO USE IN PUBLICATIONS DEVOTED TO ARTISTS (Photo credit should read TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TOLGA AKMEN via Getty Images)
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Tom Grennan attending the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena, London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images) (credit:Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images)
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Marvin Humes attending the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena, London. (credit:PA Wire/PA Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: *** EDITORIAL USE ONLY IN RELATION TO THE BRIT AWARDS 2018 *** Louisa Johnson attends The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images) (credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)