Ed Sheeran’s Street Show in India Interrupted as Police Officer Pulls the Plug
Ed Sheeran, famous for his hit songs and energetic stage shows, was suddenly halted mid-performance while giving an unplanned street show in Bengaluru on February 9, 2024. The unplanned performance, which was held on the city’s crowded Church Street, was cut short when a local police inspector pulled the plug on Sheeran’s microphone for causing public inconvenience and without permission. The action triggered the ire of fans, fueling a controversy about freedom of creativity and regulation of public spaces in India.
Part of his current Tour, Sheeran swept Bengaluru’s bustling Church Street, performing for onlookers an intimate, acoustic version of his international hit “Shape of You.” The street, famous for its nightlife and cultural vibrancy, soon became an ad hoc concert ground as a throng of people started congregating to watch the surprise performance.
A police officer unplugs Ed Sheeran’s equipment during a street performance in India:
“We have permission to be here, but this policeman is shutting it down. See you later!”
— Pop Base (@PopBase) February 10, 2025