BENGALURU: Fans voiced their frustration and disappointment after police abruptly halted Ed Sheeran’s impromptu performance on Church Street on Sunday, calling it a missed once-in-a-lifetime moment. Many argue that stopping a global pop icon from briefly performing was unnecessary and avoidable, especially in a city known for its vibrant music culture.
While some called it an embarrassing moment for Bengaluru, others pointed to the lack of public spaces for cultural events. The incident reignited debates on whether authorities should be more flexible and welcoming to spontaneous artistic expressions.
TOI spoke to bystanders and pedestrians who caught a glimpse of the English singer performing on Church Street. Sahil Kaling, a techie, said, “It was completely unexpected. I went for a run with a friend at Cubbon Park, and he jokingly said, ‘What are the odds we see Sheeran today?’ We laughed it off and continued. After the run, we took a stroll down Church Street, and just as we were about to enter MG Road Metro station, we saw him step out of a car. We couldn’t believe our luck — watching him perform up close was surreal. It was disappointing when police stopped him mid-song; they should have let him finish. But overall, it was an unforgettable experience.”
Aahista Kumar and her friend Shireen, residents of Indiranagar, shared their disappointment: “Honestly, it was embarrassing to see police unplug the mic and then watch Sheeran walk away from Church Street. We were all there, witnessing our favourite singer perform right in front of us, but we couldn’t even hear him complete a single song. There was no crowd chaos or traffic disruption—it was a quiet Sunday morning. I really don’t understand why they had to stop an international icon like Sheeran from performing.”
To many, it was too unreal to witness until they saw police walking over to the footpath. Kanishka Shah, a resident of MG Road area, said, “It took me a whole minute to comprehend it was Sheeran who was performing right in front of me. Honestly, I appreciate his gesture for coming here and singing for his fans, because not many can attend his concerts. It was peaceful and at the same time magical to see such a star humble down. Perhaps it could’ve been dealt with differently because he was there for just one song.”
Online debate
As intense debate broke out online, some defended the authorities, while others criticised the rigid enforcement of rules, calling it a missed opportunity for the city. Many backed police, saying that if he’d been mobbed or injured, it would’ve been an international incident. X handle @imagewala called it a blow to ‘Brand Bengaluru’, stating, “Most things that bring people together are shut down by the govt and police.”
Another X user, @anilkarat, sarcastically pointed out the city’s misplaced priorities: “We only allow garbage dumping, burning, pissing, and parking cars on footpaths. Not singing, having fun, or walking.”
@balajiworld highlighted Bengaluru’s shrinking cultural spaces: “People can’t exchange books in Cubbon Park, our marathon loops around the same spot, and now, we can’t even listen to Ed Sheeran on a so-called pedestrian-friendly Church Street.”
“Ed Sheeran was a guest of the city. This is not how you treat your guests. There’s a huge disconnect between the administration and the youth,” @VT_Hornbill said.