BENGALURU, India: Ed Sheeran’s surprise street performance in Bengaluru was abruptly halted when local police unplugged his microphone mid-song, citing a lack of proper permission for the event.
The pop megastar had been performing his hit “Shape of You” on Church Street, a retail and entertainment hub, when the incident took place.
The performance was part of Sheeran’s ongoing Mathematics tour, which has seen him touring India for the second consecutive year.
According to footage shared on social media, Sheeran was caught off guard as a police officer disconnected his microphone, halting the impromptu show within minutes of its start.
The local police claimed that Sheeran’s team had requested a permit for the performance but it had been denied.
Karnataka’s Home Minister, G. Parameshwara, confirmed that while Sheeran held concert permits, this did not extend to informal street performances.
“He is a very famous singer and naturally there will be chaos. To prevent that, police had not given him permission,” Parameshwara said in a statement to local media.
“In spite of that, he has come and tried to perform, so police prevented him. Nothing beyond that.”
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However, Sheeran denied any wrongdoing. In a post on Instagram shortly after the incident, he clarified, “We had permission to busk, by the way. Hence, us playing in that exact spot was planned out before. It wasn’t just us randomly turning up.”
The street performance had initially taken passers-by by surprise. Sahil Kaling, a local resident, captured the moment on video, writing, “Went for a casual walk on Church Street and stumbled upon Ed Sheeran performing live.”
Social media users were critical of the abrupt shutdown, with some describing it as “abysmal and embarrassing.”
Other social media users raised concerns over the inconsistency of law enforcement priorities, pointing out that while concerts and public performances are often subject to complex regulations, far less attention is paid to serious issues like prosecuting crimes against women.
