Ed Sheeran surprised fans in southern India with an impromptu street performance, but authorities soon intervened to stop it. The British singer, a four-time Grammy winner, was busking on Church Street in Bangalore when police interrupted his act.
Sheeran was in the city between scheduled concerts and decided to entertain fans with a live rendition of “Shape of You.” However, the performance was abruptly halted when a khaki-uniformed officer disconnected his guitar and microphone cables. Images shared on social media showed Sheeran raising his hands in frustration.
Explaining the interruption, local police said that Sheeran’s request to perform in the area had previously been denied. Authorities cited the heavy foot traffic on Church Street as the primary reason for their decision.
“We rejected the request because Church Street is a very busy area, and we need to maintain crowd movement,” said Shekhar H. Tekkannavar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru Central Division.
However, Sheeran disputed the claim, insisting that his team had obtained the necessary permissions. “We had permission to busk,” Sheeran said on Instagram shortly after the incident. “The street performance was planned beforehand; it wasn’t a random decision.”
The incident quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread reactions. One user posted a clip on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing, “Went for a casual walk on Church Street and stumbled upon Ed Sheeran performing live. What a city!”
Criticism over Ed Sheeran Busting
Nevertheless, not all responses were supportive of the authorities. Some users criticized the disruption, arguing that the harmless performance should have been allowed to continue. Others urged the police to prioritize issues such as traffic congestion and water scarcity in the city of around 14 million people.
Despite the controversy, Sheeran remains a beloved figure in India. He performed a sold-out concert in Mumbai last year, drawing massive crowds.
Looking ahead, Sheeran is scheduled to perform two more shows in India before heading to China and the United Arab Emirates. The incident has only increased fan anticipation for his upcoming performances.
