Rapper Nicki Minaj has decided not to do her scheduled performance in Saudi Arabia due to concerns of human rights issues.
The festival will take place in the King Abdullah Sports Stadium, and was said to include acts such as Liam Payne and Dy Steve Aoki. Additionally, the festival was said to align with Saudi laws and remain drug and alcohol free.
The Anaconda rapper was set to perform at Jeddah World Fest on July 18, however after pressure from fans and other groups such as the Human Rights Foundation, she has decided to cancel, according to TMZ.
Minaj made the announcement, stating “After careful reflection I have decided to no longer move forward with my scheduled concert at Jeddah World Fest. While I want nothing more than to bring my show to fans in Saudi Arabia, after better educating myself on the issues, I believe it is important for me to make clear my support for the rights of women, the LGBTQ community and freedom of expression.”
Besides backing out due to Saudi Arabia’s restrictive laws, Saudi women also expressed their frustration, as Minaj is known for being provocative, and Saudi women who attend the concert are expected to remain covered up. The country only recently allowed women to drive and attend sporting events in stadiums, however gender segregation still exists and same sex relations remains outlawed.
