Ed Sheeran Is Suddenly Everywhere On Long Island — Well, Sort Of

SMITHTOWN, NY — Ed Sheeran really was in Smithtown this week.

After that, things got a little less real.

The global pop star's actual visit to Osteria Umbra has spawned an increasingly elaborate Long Island social media trend, with businesses from Smithtown to Babylon, Hauppauge, Patchogue and Westhampton Beach using artificial intelligence to make it appear Sheeran has been dropping by just about everywhere.

Call it "Where's Ed?"

Sheeran dined at Osteria Umbra on Terry Road in Smithtown on Tuesday, Sept. 1, where he posed for a photo with co-owner and executive chef Marco Pellegrini and chef de cuisine Sabrina Vallorini. The restaurant called it "a very special evening" and thanked the singer for sharing "a little taste of Umbrian hospitality" with them.

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The visit was genuine. Sheeran followed it Wednesday with another real Long Island dining stop at eatMOSAIC in St. James, later writing on Instagram, "Best meal of my year thank you @eatmosaic."

But once photos of the superstar's Smithtown visit began circulating, apparently everyone wanted a visit from Ed.

At Don Jono's Pizzeria Restaurant in Smithtown, an image showed Sheeran standing alongside a man holding a pizza.

"Well... we were starting to feel a little left out but what do you know, Ed Sheeran decided to stop by Don Jono's too!" the business joked in a Facebook post carrying an "AI info" label.

At North Shore Paving Corp., Sheeran suddenly appeared beside a bright red dump truck.

"Ed Sheeran isn't just visiting his favorite local restaurants, is making his rounds to all his favorite local businesses," the company wrote. "We are his favorite Asphalt & Masonry company. Thanks, Ed."

That post was also labeled "AI info."

The sightings only became more elaborate from there.

Smithtown resident Kurt Budke joined the joke with an AI-labeled image showing Sheeran apparently pushing a lawn mower across a manicured backyard.

“Most of the people in Smithtown area have now seen Ed Sheeran in a restaurant this week,” Budke wrote. “Folks, I had a chat with him, he loves mowing lawns. Nicest guy and now my lawn looks superb.”

And in Commack, Dancehouse Studios got Sheeran onto the dance floor, posting an image depicting the singer taking a class alongside young dancers at the studio.

“I’m sure you’ve all heard that Ed Sheeran has been hanging out locally... but look where else he popped in!” the studio wrote. “He came to meet a fellow Brit and take a little dance class at Dancehouse Studios!”

Then there was The Smithtown Library, where Sheeran appeared to hug a large bull mascot between the bookshelves.

"Apparently, Ed Sheeran's tour of Smithtown this week included a stop at the library!" the library wrote. "We can't say we blame him."

Even the Smithtown Fire Department got in on the act, sharing an AI-labeled image depicting Sheeran alongside Fire Chief Dann Dongvort.

“Forget ‘Castle on the Hill’—Ed Sheeran’s ‘Perfect’ moment was getting a ‘Photograph’ with Smithtown FD Chief Dann Dongvort,” the department joked, packing the post with references to Sheeran songs.

The trend wasn't limited to Smithtown.

A post from Karat and Crown in Babylon placed Sheeran inside the jewelry store, while a Hauppauge insurance agent shared an AI-labeled photo depicting herself alongside the singer.

"I would never believe Ed Sheeran could ever stop by MY business," Kristen Martino wrote, before eventually giving away the joke: "And before TMZ comes calling... don't believe everything you see on the Internet."

At Westhampton Beach Brewing Company, Sheeran was shown crouched inside brewing equipment as he supposedly helped out with the beer-making process.

"Ed Sheeran came by today to help Rizzo out," the brewery joked.

And in Patchogue, photographer That Guy Event Photo posted an AI-labeled image showing what appeared to be a waterfront photo shoot with Sheeran at Sandspit Marina.

The singer even apparently found time for martial arts.

Waverly Martial Arts posted an image of Sheeran standing with three instructors, saying he had "decided to squeeze in a little training."

"We tried to tell him black belt takes more than one class... but he said he's used to doing things 'Perfect,'" the business joked, referencing Sheeran's hit song.

Then came the disclaimer.

"No, Ed Sheeran was not actually at Waverly Martial Arts," the business wrote. "We just wanted in on the fun!"

Sheeran's actual presence on Long Island comes as he is in the New York area for two scheduled performances at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Friday and Saturday as part of his LOOP Tour.

Whether Sheeran makes another genuine Long Island appearance before leaving the area remains to be seen.

At this point, though, Long Islanders may have to look twice before believing it.