Bengaluru Authorities Shut Down Surprise Street Performance, Sparking Online Debate
British pop star Ed Sheeran found himself in an unexpected clash with Indian authorities this weekend when police shut down his surprise street performance in Bengaluru, claiming he did not have official permission to busk.
The four-time Grammy winner was in between tour stops when he decided to perform on Church Street, one of the city’s busiest pedestrian areas. Fans were thrilled to see Sheeran strumming his guitar and singing his hit song “Shape of You”, but midway through the performance, a uniformed police officer abruptly pulled the plug—literally.
According to Bengaluru police, Sheeran had not received official approval to perform in the area, and a citizen complaint led authorities to intervene.
“We rejected it because Church Street is a very busy area, and we try to keep the people moving there,” said Shekhar H. Tekkannavar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru Central division.
However, Sheeran countered the police’s claim, stating on Instagram that the performance had been pre-approved.
“We had permission to busk. It was planned out before; it wasn’t just us randomly turning up,” Sheeran said, expressing frustration over the disruption.
The incident quickly went viral, with fans taking to social media to share videos of Sheeran’s short-lived performance. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote:
“Went for a casual walk on Church Street and stumbled upon Ed Sheeran performing live. What a city!”
Others criticized the local authorities, arguing that stopping a harmless street performance was unnecessary and that police should focus on more pressing city issues, such as traffic congestion and water shortages.
Despite the setback, Sheeran remains hugely popular in India. He previously performed to a sold-out crowd in Mumbai and even collaborated onstage with Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh, an event that lit up Indian social media.
Sheeran is set to perform two more concerts in India before heading to China and the UAE for the next leg of his tour. Whether or not he will attempt another street performance in India remains to be seen, but if the reaction to this incident is any indication, fans would welcome it.