Not everyone wants to hear Ed Sheeran sing for free.
The four-time Grammy award-winning singer tried to give a surprise performance in India on Sunday — just to be stopped by cops for not having the right permits.
The 33-year-old pop star was busking in the southern city of Bengaluru when local police marched over as he was playing his 2017 mega-hit “Shape of You,” footage shot by onlookers shows.
Fans jeered as an officer walked over to Sheeran — who was wearing green shorts and a white T-shirt — and unplugged his microphone, halting the performance, the video showed.
“We have permission to be here, but this policeman is shutting us down,” the British superstar told onlookers.
“But we’ll see you later,” he said before walking off.
Authorities say Sheeran’s staff sought permission to host the street performance, but it was not granted.
“I refused to give permission because Church Street gets very crowded,” Shekar Tekkannanavar, police deputy commissioner for central Bengaluru, told ANI news agency.
“That is the reason he was asked to vacate the place,” the deputy commissioner declared.
Sheeran fired back later on Instagram, insisting: “We had permission to busk, by the way. Hence, us playing in that exact spot was planned out before. It wasn’t just us randomly turning up.”
He added: “All good though. See you at the show tonight.”
Sheeran was scheduled to perform at NICE Grounds in Bengaluru both Saturday and Sunday for a leg of his Mathematics Tour, according to his website.
Fans poured out with outrage and frustration over the interruption of Sheeran’s impromptu performance in a slew of social media postings.
“I can’t believe I am taking the mic to defend ED SHEERAN of all people but policing presentations of culture and authentic joy is never a good thing for a nation just btw,” wrote one user on X.
“This is the new India where cops allow you to pee in public but not play music. Where cops allow wrong side driving but not play music. Where no permission needed for illegal banners but yes for live performance,” another user wrote.
PC Mohan, a local MP from the ruling BJP party, wrote on X: “Even global stars must follow local rules – no permit, no performance!”
