British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran's impromptu street performance in Bengaluru (the capital and largest city of the southern Indian state of Karnataka, India) was halted by local police, much to the disappointment of the fans who gathered there to hear it.
As Sheeran performed his worldwide chart-topping hit "Shape of You," a uniformed police officer approached and abruptly unplugged his equipment, bringing the performance to a quick end. The officer, seemingly unaware of who Sheeran was, intervened apparently due to concerns over crowd control and the lack of prior permission for the gathering. Sheeran refutes that, saying he had permission to busk.
A police officer pulled the plug when Ed Sheeran surprised everyone on Church Street😂😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/cMIRoLC7Mk
— Naai sekar (@snehaplsstop) February 9, 2025
Sheeran took to Instagram to clarify the situation, stating:
"We had permission to busk btw, hence us playing in that exact spot, was planned out before, it wasn't just us randomly turning up. All good though. See ya at the show tonight x."
The Bengaluru police later provided an explanation for their actions. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for Central Bengaluru, Shekar T. Tekkannanavar, stated that permission for the performance was denied due to concerns about overcrowding on Church Street.
"A member among the event organisers came to meet me to seek permission for the streetside performance at Church Street. I refused to give permission because Church Street gets very crowded. That is the reason he was asked to vacate the place."
Following this event, Sheeran continued with his scheduled performances in India, including shows in Shillong and Delhi. He also shared highlights from his visit, such as taking a sitar lesson and interacting with local musicians.
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