While on the India leg of his Mathematics Tour, English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s impromptu street performance in Bengaluru was abruptly halted by local police, who cited a lack of necessary permits. The incident occurred on Sunday morning on Church Street as Sheeran began playing his hit song “Shape of You”. A video capturing a policeman unplugging Sheeran’s microphone quickly went viral, sparking mixed reactions online.
Sheeran has since clarified on Instagram that the performance was pre-arranged and that he believed he had permission to “busk”. He explained, “We actually had permission to perform, so that particular location was chosen deliberately and arranged in advance. It wasn’t a spontaneous decision to just show up and play.”
Despite Sheeran’s clarification, authorities maintained that the performance was stopped due to a complaint of public nuisance and concerns about potential overcrowding on Church Street, a busy area known for nightlife and cultural events. One police official stated Sheeran was performing without permission, and no one approached them for the permit. Deputy Commissioner of Police Shekar T Tekkannanavar said he refused permission because Church Street gets very crowded.
The incident has drawn considerable attention on social media, with some users criticizing the police’s actions, while others defended them, pointing to the need to maintain public order. Some social media users described it as “uncleocracy” where young people were stopped from having fun. Netizens found the incident embarrassing since Sheeran followed all the rules. Sheeran continued with his scheduled performances in Bengaluru and is slated to perform in Shillong next. Police stated that they didn’t give official permission because Church Street is a busy area and can get overcrowded. Sheeran, however, claimed his team had obtained prior approval to play. The event has led to a lot of discussion about whether street performances should be allowed in the city.
