Did Ed Sheeran release a song called "Rest in Peace, Charlie Kirk", possibly together with Adele? No, that's not true: The viral YouTube video was synthetically generated according to the description below it. A specialized detection tool confirmed the song was made with artificial intelligence. Several AI generated variations of the song that are in circulation aren't real either.
The viral video (archived here) was published on YouTube channel "Ai Modiveza" on September 13, 2025 under the title "Ed Sheeran - Rest in Peace, Charlie Kirk | Heartfelt Tribute Song". The description of the video read:
Ed Sheeran - Rest in Peace, Charlie Kirk is a heartfelt and spiritual tribute song that carries the essence of love, memory, and eternal light. In this track, Ed Sheeran delivers his iconic storytelling style--poetic, emotional, and deeply reflective--while honoring the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk.
Through powerful verses, a soulful pre-chorus, and a timeless chorus, the song tells a story of courage, truth, and faith. It captures both the grief of loss and the beauty of remembrance, reminding us that love and legacy never fade. The melody flows like a hymn, blending intimacy and depth, making it both a farewell anthem and a spiritual comfort song.
This tribute not only showcases Ed Sheeran's mastery as a songwriter but also speaks directly to the human soul. Whether you're mourning, reflecting, or simply seeking comfort in music, Rest in Peace, Charlie Kirk is a song that will stay with you long after it ends.
If you believe in honoring legacies and celebrating the lives of those who have touched us deeply, this song will speak to your heart.
Hashtags for Maximum Reach
#EdSheeran #RestInPeaceCharlieKirk #TributeSong #EdSheeranLyrics #SpiritualMusic #EmotionalSong #StorytellingMusic #InspirationalSong #EdSheeranTribute #GoodbyeSong #FarewellTribute #HeartfeltLyrics #AcousticSong #TimelessMusic #MusicForTheSoul
This is what the video thumbnail looked like:
(Image source: thumbnail of YouTube video by Ai Modiveza.)
It featured a fake logo for music video network Vevo, leading many people to think it was real.
This is the video in question:
The description of the video further read:
How this content was made
Altered or synthetic content
Sound or visuals were significantly edited or digitally generated.
Hiya, a tool from the InVid verification plugin, showed that the thirty seconds of audio from the song we asked it to analyze was created by AI using a technique called voice cloning:
(Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of the InVid verification plugin)
The same channel also posted a video (archived here) with similar description and disclaimer claiming the song was made by Ed Sheeran and Adele:
Lead Stories located some less popular additional videos (archived here and here) for an alleged Ed Sheeran song named "Rest in Peace Charlie Kirk" (without comma) with similar AI disclaimers in the description.
According to a search at the time of writing, Ed Sheeran's official YouTube channel does not feature any videos mentioning the phrase "Charlie Kirk" (archived here).
