Ed Sheeran surprised fans with a live performance on a bustling street in Bangalore, India, this weekend, but his impromptu busking session was cut short by local police for not having the necessary permission.
The four-time Grammy winner was between shows when he decided to play on Church Street, but midway through his rendition of “Shape of You,” police intervened. A uniformed officer unplugged his guitar and microphone cables, leading to a frustrated response from the singer, who threw up his hands in dismay.
Local authorities clarified that they had previously denied Sheeran’s request to busk in the area, citing concerns about the busy nature of Church Street and the need to keep foot traffic flowing. Deputy Commissioner of Police Shekhar H. Tekkannavar explained, “We rejected it because Church Street is a very busy area and we try to keep the people moving there,” during an interview with CNN.
However, Sheeran later asserted on Instagram that permission had been granted for the street performance, stating, “We had permission to busk. (The street performance) was planned out before, it wasn’t just us randomly turning up.” CNN has reached out to his representatives for further comment.
The incident quickly went viral on social media, with one user sharing a clip of Sheeran’s performance and expressing excitement at stumbling upon the live show.
Reactions online included criticism of local authorities, with many arguing that the performance posed no disruption and that the police should focus on pressing issues such as traffic congestion and water scarcity in the bustling city of 14 million residents.
Sheeran enjoys considerable popularity in India, having performed to a sold-out crowd in Mumbai last year. He is scheduled to hold two more shows in India before continuing his tour to China and the United Arab Emirates.
Credit: CNN
