Police in India demanded the singer to shut down his street performance. Photo / Getty Images
Ed Sheeran was left embarrassed after police in India demanded he shut down a street performance.
The Bad Habits singer was busking in Bengaluru ahead of a stadium gig on Saturday night.
It was initially claimed he failed to get permission to stage a public show and was collared by Cubbon Park Police.
Video shows Sheeran being approached by the cop as he sings Shape Of You to the crowd.
The officer sparks an awkward exchange as he tries to turn off the music equipment.
A crowd sings the lyrics aloud as Ed clutches a microphone, but the sound is cut off.
Awkwardly, the police appeared to be completely unaware of the hitmaker’s identity.
On Instagram, he said: “We had permission to busk BTW, hence us playing in that exact spot.
“[It] was planned out before, it wasn’t just us randomly turning up.”
Fans of the star took to social media to lash out at police, with one remarking: “We live in an uncleocracy. And there’s nothing uncles love more than to stop young people from having fun.”
The incident even reached the country’s politicians, with PC Mohan, a local MP from the ruling BJP party, saying on social media “even global stars must follow local rules – no permit, no performance!”
Sheeran is in India for the second year in a row on a 15-day tour, having already played in Pune Hyderabad and Chennai and with more concerts scheduled for Shillong in India’s northeast and the capital Delhi.
He has a growing fanbase in the country after previously collaborating with Indian singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh last year.
Demand for live music concerts has been increasing in India, with Sheeran’s biggest tour of the country to date following superstar Dua Lipa’s recent performance in Mumbai and Coldplay’s extensive tour.
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