British singer Ed Sheeran’s spontaneous street performance in Bengaluru, India’s tech hub, was abruptly halted by police on Sunday, sparking disappointment among fans and prompting Sheeran to clarify the situation.
Dressed in a white t-shirt and shorts, Sheeran was seen playing his guitar and singing on a pavement in central Bengaluru ahead of his scheduled concert that evening.
Read more: Diljit Dosanjh Faces Legal Complaint Over Concert Songs
Local media captured the moment when a policeman approached him mid-performance of his hit song Shape of You and disconnected the microphone, drawing jeers from the crowd. Sheeran soon left the scene.
Authorities stated that event organizers had not obtained permission for the performance, which took place on one of the city’s busiest streets.
“I refused to grant permission because Church Street experiences heavy foot traffic. That’s why he was asked to vacate the area,” Bengaluru police official Shekar T Tekkannanavar told ANI news agency.
However, Sheeran later addressed the incident on Instagram, asserting that he did have the necessary approval.
“It wasn’t just us randomly showing up. All good though,” he wrote.
Sheeran, who started his career as a street musician in the UK, is currently in India for a series of concerts. Later that night, he performed in front of thousands at an open-air venue, sharing the stage with Indian singer Shilpa Rao.
