British singer Ed Sheeran was cut off by police while performing to a small crowd at Indian high-tech capital on Sunday afternoon.
Wearing a T-shirt and shorts tied to an acoustic guitar, Sheeran is seen in a video circulating through social media playing to crowds along Church Street in Bengaluru, India’s high-tech capital. While in the middle of his hit song “Shape of You,” the police officer pulls out Sheeran’s microphone, shrugging from the shocking reactions from people nearby and shrugging from Sheeran.
In response to the incident, the police’s Central Bengaluru Assistant Committee Shekal T. Tekkannanavar said he previously refused permission to perform the Baskeiking.
“A member of the event organizers came to meet me to ask for permission to perform a streetside performance on Church Street,” Tekkannanavar told Indian news outlet ANI. “I refused to give permission because Church Street is so busy. That’s why he was asked to leave the place.”
According to Reuters, Sheeran reportedly shared his Instagram story that he had permission to perform along Church Street. Sheeran’s team did not respond immediately when contacted by USA Today on Monday.
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Why is Ed Sheeran from India?
Sheeran’s street performance came just hours before he got up on stage at Nice Ground in Bengaluru as part of the +-=÷× Tour. Sheeran will perform two more shows in India (Shillong on February 12th and Leisure Valley Ground on February 15th) before spending six nights at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China.
On Sunday, Sheeran played alongside Grammy-nominated Indian singer Silpalau and sang Rao’s “Chattamar” in Telugu, a native Indian language. A few days ago he remixed “Shape of You” with Indian composer and producer Ar Rahman.
What is Basking?
Basking is an act of entertaining people in public places, often for compensation. Examples of basking include singing, dancing and playing musical instruments.
Gretacross is a national trend reporter for USA Today. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story ideas? Email her to [email protected].