Due to its interpolation of "No Scrubs" by TLC, Kandi Burruss, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, and Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs are also credited as writers.

It was also highly successful elsewhere, reaching number one in many European charts and throughout Latin America,[3][4] as well as in Malaysia where it spent 12 non-consecutive weeks at the top.

It was first written for Little Mix and then it was conceived as a duet between Rihanna and Rudimental, but the head of the record label convinced him to keep the song for himself.

"[14]According to Sheeran, Steve Mac started the songwriting session by playing the opening notes of the song on the keyboard.

Sheeran said he wanted an R&B feel to the song, therefore he adjusted the original tune, adding an interpolation of "No Scrubs" onto part of the melody.

[17][18] On 4 January 2017, Sheeran uploaded a six-second teaser video of a blue background to social media, with lyrics "the club isn't the best place to find a lover", which is the first line of "Shape of You".

To further tease the release, Sheeran and his label used a sponsored Snapchat lens filter with 30 seconds of the song to increase buzz among the general public.

"[27][28] According to NT News, the song "tells the story of loved (or lusted) up Sheeran meeting a girl in a bar where he and his mates are doing shots.

"[29] The song's lyrical rhythm drew some comparisons to the 1999 TLC hit "No Scrubs", particularly in the pre-chorus line, "Boy, let's not talk too much/ Grab on my waist and put that body on me".

Kandi Burruss had told Bravo's Andy Cohen that the negotiations had started before the song's release for its interpolation but weren't finalized until afterwards.

As a result, the composers of "No Scrubs", Kandi Burruss, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, and Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, received co-writing credits on "Shape of You".

[30] Jon Caramanica from The New York Times said, "'Shape of You' is trickier, a nimble and effective song that takes the aggressive thinning of 'Caribbean music'.

[46] "Shape of You" is Sheeran's best-selling single in the UK with total sales of 5.09 million units as of July 2021, according to the Official Charts Company.

[65] It stayed at the peak position for 4 consecutive weeks before it was dethroned by "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber.

[75] In March 2022, Sheeran was taken to court by musicians Sami Chokri and Ross O'Donoghue who allege "Shape of You" infringes "particular lines and phrases" of their 2015 composition "Oh Why".

[77][78] Legal proceedings began in May 2018, with Sheeran and his co-writers asking the high court to declare they had not infringed Chokri and O'Donoghue's copyright.

[83] On 30 January 2017, the official music video of the song, paying homage to the Rocky films, starring US dancer and model Jennie Pegouskie and retired professional sumo wrestler Yamamotoyama Ryūta (credited as "Yama"), was released on Sheeran's channel.

[86] The music video opens with Ed Sheeran who is first seen sitting down in a lonely dark room save for the sunlight that shines beside him with footages featuring his love interest and fellow boxer (Jennie Pegouskie) and his upcoming match.

Upon arriving, the couple eat and share foods like canoodling over a fried chicken as they have an intimate conversation with each other, although their dialogue is entirely mute.

The scene cuts back to Sheeran who discovers a picture and a black box both seen earlier with the latter containing a blue mouthguard featuring a "÷" symbol at the front.

In response to her disappointing departure, Sheeran lets out his frustration and proceeds to an intense workout that includes tire-flipping, shadowboxing, sit-up, running and push-up.

Later, Sheeran participates a match he has anticipated throughout the clip but he unexpectedly encounters a Rikishi or a sumo wrestler (Yamamotoyama Ryūta), much to his shock.

[93] On 27 August, Sheeran performed "Shape of You" at 2017 MTV Video Music Awards in a medley with Lil Uzi Vert and his song "XO Tour Llif3".

The official remix of "Shape of You" features newly additional verses and guest vocals by English grime artist Stormzy.

"I've got two things dropping on Friday that are pretty interesting", he revealed in a BBC Radio 1 interview just hours before the big show.

One DJ, Joe "Maz" Masurka, told Billboard that after he did his own remix on the single that he received a lot of great feedback and response: "... the dance floor loves it.

[99] In March 2017, a Walsall woman Sonia Bryce was imprisoned for two months for noise pollution after repeatedly playing "Shape of You" at a high volume.

[100][101] English singer Charli XCX performed "Shape of You" in drag as Sheeran on the US television series Lip Sync Battle in March 2018.

[105][non-primary source needed] Likewise, the song was covered by Hawaiian ukulele artist Jake Shimabukuro for his 2018 album, The Greatest Day.

[107][non-primary source needed][108] The song also has been covered by Postmodern Jukebox, done as a Stevie Wonder-style 1970s number, guest starring Stefano Langone on lead vocals.