- Monday, February 10, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
British singer Ed Sheeran surprised fans in Bengaluru with an unannounced performance on Church Street on Sunday (9) morning. However, the moment was cut short when Bengaluru police stopped him mid-way. A video of the incident quickly went viral, sparking strong reactions from netizens. While some fans criticized the authorities, others supported the police’s decision.
In the video circulating on social media, Ed Sheeran was seen singing his global hit Shape of You while dressed casually with sunglasses. However, the performance was interrupted when a police officer unplugged his microphone.
Sheeran, visibly surprised, told the crowd, “We have the permission to be here, but this policeman is shutting it down.” The moment left fans shocked and led to divided opinions online.
A police officer pulled the plug when Ed Sheeran surprised everyone on Church Street😂😭😭😭
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A Reddit user posted the video with the caption, “A police officer pulled the plug when Ed Sheeran surprised everyone on Church Street” (laughing emojis). The post quickly gained traction, with social media platforms buzzing with comments. One Reddit user remarked, “Hahaha. One of those ‘Only in India’ moments.”
Another user on X (formerly Twitter) shared, “International artist @edsheeran was stopped playing in #Bangalore at Church Street. Even though he had the permission. Literally! The cops pulled the plug. Damn sad!”
While some people found the incident amusing, others called it “very embarrassing.” A user quipped, “Iska challan pounds mein niklega (his challan will be issued in pounds).”
On the other hand, some users defended the police officer’s actions. One comment read, “He’s just doing his job!” Another praised the cop, stating, “Lmaooo, uncle doesn’t discriminate between goras and local street singers! He deserves an award.”
Some also pointed out safety concerns. Comparing it to the recent Pushpa 2 stampede tragedy, one person wrote, “This will block the road, create issues, and finally lead to a stampede. Have you forgotten what happened when Allu Arjun visited the cinema hall to surprise fans?”
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Despite Sheeran’s claim of having permission for the street performance, the Bengaluru Police have yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
Ed Sheeran is currently in India as part of his Mathematics Tour. He has already performed in Hyderabad and Chennai, where he shared the stage with legendary composer A.R. Rahman for a special rendition of Urvasi. His next stop was Bengaluru on February 8. He is set to perform in Shillong on February 12 and Delhi NCR on February 15, concluding his India leg.
