This weekend, Ed Sheeran took to a bustling street in southern India to surprise fans with an impromptu live performance, but local police quickly intervened, citing a lack of permission for the British singer to busk.
The four-time Grammy winner was in Bangalore between shows when he decided to entertain passersby on Church Street. However, midway through his rendition of “Shape of You,” a police officer abruptly disconnected his guitar and microphone cables, prompting Sheeran to raise his hands in frustration, as seen in social media posts.
Local authorities confirmed that they had previously denied Sheeran permission to perform in the area. A citizen reportedly called a helpline to report the unauthorized performance once it began. “We rejected it because Church Street is a very busy area, and we try to keep the people moving there,” stated Shekhar H. Tekkannavar, Deputy Commissioner of Police for Bengaluru Central division.
Ed Sheeran’s Response
In response, Sheeran took to Instagram shortly after the incident, asserting that they had indeed received permission to busk. “We had permission to busk. (The street performance) was planned out before; it wasn’t just us randomly turning up,” he explained.
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The incident quickly went viral, with one social media user sharing a clip of Sheeran’s performance: “Went for a casual walk on Church Street and stumbled upon Ed Sheeran performing live. What a city!”
Reactions online were mixed, with many criticizing local authorities for their response. Some argued that the performance posed no real threat and suggested that officials should focus on more pressing issues, such as traffic congestion and water scarcity in the densely populated city of approximately 14 million.
Sheeran is well-loved in India, having played a sold-out concert in Mumbai last year. He is scheduled to perform two more shows in India before continuing his tour in China and the United Arab Emirates.
