In a move of conviction rarely seen, especially in the entertainment industry:
Rapper Nicki Minaj announced she would not be performing at a music festival in Saudi Arabia. Minaj cited her reason for pulling out of the performance as wanting to show support for women, gays and the freedom to express thought.
The most important point:
“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.”
Despite the abundance of information readily available in just one click, far too many Westerners refuse to “better educate” themselves “on the issues” of sharia abuses in Saudi Arabia and other Islamic states. Western feminists and charlatan “human rights activists” remain largely silent about sharia-sanctioned abuses of women, gays and non-Muslims. They too need to “better educate” themselves and to be held accountable. Minaj would do well to continue to learn about Islam, sharia, and the term “Islamophobia,” which is an assault on the freedom of expression, used in service of the goal of subjugating free societies.
The Human Rights Foundation praised Minaj’s decision to pull out of the concert…..This is what leadership looks like,” Thor Halvorssen, president of the Human Rights Foundation, said.”
“Nicki Minaj Pulls Out Of Saudi Arabia Concert In Support Of Women, LGBTQ”, by Lauryn Overhultz, Daily Caller, July 9, 2019:
Rapper Nicki Minaj announced she would not be performing at a music festival in Saudi Arabia.
Minaj cited her reason for pulling out of the performance as wanting to show support for women, gays and the freedom to express thought, according to a report published by the Associated Press.
“After careful reflection I have decided to no longer move forward with my scheduled concert at Jeddah World Fest,” Minaj said in a statement to the Associated Press. “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.”
The move by Minaj comes a week after the Human Rights Foundation called for performers, including Minaj, to pull out of the show. Although some rules against women have changed, gender segregation still exists in the country, according to the AP.
The Human Rights Foundation praised Minaj’s decision to pull out of the concert Tuesday and encouraged other artists still set to perform, such as Liam Payne and Steve Aoki, to follow her lead.
“This is what leadership looks like,” Thor Halvorssen, president of the Human Rights Foundation, said….
mortimer says
Good for her. I agree that artists should make a stand. But that is not the only way of protesting.
Artists and performers can ALSO make a stand by actually going to the venues in ‘occupied territory’ and then ‘pushing the envelope’ by drawing attention to various injustices while performing there, thus, giving comfort to those who fight for human rights.
Some artists who have ‘brought the message’ of human rights to ‘occupied territory’ have been sent back on the next plane.
The very wealthy women of Saudi Arabia are growing more confident by degrees. They will eventually demand full rights and the backward kingdom will crack open. This will be a great blow to the control of the mullahs.
b.a. freeman says
i wouldn’t count on it, mortimer; remember, we’re dealing with the mafia here, except that they *own* the country, and own a military equipped by *us*. i say that there is *NO WAY* that they will allow any kind of reform; all they have to do is point to the kutub alsittah to prove that they are pious muslims. besides, what’s not to like about owning people … right?
i pray every day that mr. trump would wake up to islam, and have the same relationship with all sharia-ruled countries that we have with north korea.
gravenimage says
I wouldn’t count on it, either. The idea that all the Muslim victims of Islam are actually opposed to Islam is sadly not borne out.
jewdog says
It’s very rare to see anyone, much less someone in the generally fatuous realm of entertainment, take an informed and principled stand, especially when it goes against the grain. The other alternative would be to perform and then take the mic and harangue the audience, but then she could be beheaded for her trouble.
b.a. freeman says
well, she *might* live, but that harangue would *definitely* be the end of the concert!
+1
Proud Infidel says
The only reason she cancelled was due to pressure from human rights activists. She’s a slutty entertainer who, like most of them, cares not where her fees come from.
theSailor says
She will certainly get some publicity out of it. Valuable stuff, publicity, for a pop singer, who presumably does not need the money from one pop concert to pay her grocery bills. Virtue-signalling publicity is even better. We are expected to believe that neither she nor her minders knew anything about life in Saudi Arabia before booking her in for the gig?
gravenimage says
I *like* to see people telling the truth about life under Islam.
Bill says
I will be more interested in seeing just how the mainstream media ignores this, or, simply gets to work burying her career for getting out of line.
underbed cat says
Most of the main stream media has ignored plenty of issues….except when the issue suits their issue or whatever which way the wind blows in the ratings.
b.a. freeman says
what she said is beyond the pale; such “hate speech” cannot be allowed. i say that the legacy media will do its level best to make sure she has to live under a bridge.
here’s hoping that she does well, anyway; her fans have been indoctrinated by the left, but many of them don’t pay any attention to what the media says, and their attention to her won’t veer off for a second.
Robert Grimaldi says
Got an idea. Let’s encourage Bette Midler, Rosie ODONNELL, and whoopi, Joy Behar, there to play a concert and give a protest speech!
b.a. freeman says
😀
*excellent* idea! of course, they will no doubt protest maltreatment of the “brown man” rather than that of homosexuals, atheists, christians, hindus, buddhists, …
with any luck, they’ll say something so unforgivable that their hosts will kill them. at the very least, it would teach those idiots what real authoritarianism is, and best of all, they would stop spreading lies.
J_not_a says
Send the odious ubernutty lib, kiddieporn Michael Jackson defender Barbra Streisand with that group of hags to KSA, she’s just as bad if not worse
underbed cat says
Hey, we could send the U.S. Woman World Soccer Team to sell their message in Saudi Arabia……they love human rights….free speech and it would give them a great chance to air political grievances, harangue the President and they could……what’s that, they cancelled? No soccer balls available? That’s O.K. we got the free press to carry your dignified pink hat critical message and foxie lady too. Too much trouble eh? Tough break.
Great job team, (I just hope some of you who celebrate might see the light)you can have your freedom of speech leader to kick whites/ black soccer balls, meet another famous free speech advocate of the NFL and mingle with Presidential candidates from NY or Georgie maybe get an invitation on al Quds Day parade, get free tickets to the Academy for the very brave and freedom of expression role models. I am sure your invitations will be endless for the uninformed.
b.a. freeman says
+1
revereridesagain says
File under “Even a stopped clock…”. It’s sad that the had to “better educate” herself about conditions there at this late date — but at least she did so. Can we send them “Tay-Tay” in her rainbow romper playsuit instead? No doubt “You Need to Calm Down” would go over wonderfully well in the Kingdom.
I hope the wealthy women of Saudi Arabia become so powerful that in the foreseeable future they will make every male Muslim there shrink* at even the thought of becoming a mullah.
(In the “Seinfeld” sense, of course.)
Wellington says
A small step but a step in the right direction nonetheless respecting calling attention to Islamic repression.
Guess Linda Sarsour won’t be attending any of Minaj’s concerts in the future.
underbed cat says
Thanks for informing yourself Nicki Minaj….Islamic oppression sharia law, is deadly and gets free access passes in much of the world an example U.K. arrests those who speak out,. citizens and Tommy Robinson arrests show how insidious the campaign of silencing truth labeled as ‘hate speech” has invaded the minds.
hornedviper9 says
They Give Children the DEATH PENALTY!
Angemon says
Well, this is a genuine surprise. And a good one, for that matter.
gravenimage says
+1
Guy Forester says
Dear NM,
Please post a copy of your KSA visa approval on this or any other website to prove that the KSA and the morality police actually planned to allow you into their Islamic Paradise. I sincerely doubt that you were actually given a visitor or similar short stay visa, let alone one that would allow you to actually perform there, which would be a type of work visa.
While I certainly believe that the KSA has much need of improvement (to say the least) when it comes to western style human rights, please note the following:
1. They sometimes do not act like it, but the Saudis are not stupid, and many are actually educated in Western Europe and the US. They know who and what NM is, does, and says. I suspect they have seen your videos and heard your music (or what ever it is). I sincerely doubt that they want NM in the KSA.
2. The KSA promotes an extremely rigid, traditional, and conservative religion and society. Anyone planning to go there for work, business, Haj, education, or anything else had better study up on that place . Even if you intend to follow the rules, being non-muslim, non-Saudi, and non-arab, puts the visitor at a severe legal disadvantage.
gravenimage says
Guy, the implication that Nicki Minaj is lying about being scheduled to perform in Saudi Arabia is mistaken:
“Nicki Minaj Set to Headline Concert in Saudi Arabia”
https://time.com/5619661/nicki-minaj-concert-saudi-arabia/
Guy Forester says
Dear GI,
In that article that you posted, it was the organizers that claimed NM would be there and that the event would be broadcast outside of the KSA as well. The idea of broadcasting the show has apparently been shot down, but I do not have a link to that. My point is that the organizers can claim and promise anything. Delivering a valid visa into the KSA is another. Of course, big show organizers never get it wrong, lie, or set up fraudulent gigs; but that is a different matter, right?
Did you watch that video clip embedded in that article?
Try this: Shoot a selfie clip of you doing the same thing, dressed that way, and with the same topic. Post it to the internet. Then, go to the nearest KSA consulate and request a visa to enter their country. I doubt that you will be successful. Mariah Carey may have been allowed to perform somewhere in the KSA, but at her most provocative, she is tame compared to NM.
NM’s reasons may be a cover for her not getting said visa. If I am wrong, I will be happy to admit I read too much into the story.
CRUSADER says
Ayaan Hirsi Ali:
Banning the Burqa Misses the Point in a Liberal Society….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z40ZnDLeXUk
gravenimage says
I respect Ayaan Hirsi Ali greatly, but disagree with her here.
Giacomo Latta says
Ali is 100% right. People who concentrate the debate on a rag and not on a clash of values are giving Muslims of all stripe a basis for their calls of selective bias by Westerners.
Paul J says
+1
abad says
Not familiar with Minaj, but good for her for having the integrity to not go to Saudi Arabia.
Maybe other performers will follow suit.
gravenimage says
Rapper Nicki Minaj pulls out of Saudi Arabia concert in support of women, gays and freedom of expression
……………….
Good for her!
CRUSADER says
But WHY should it have to take this Human Rights Foundation
to call for performers, including Minaj, to pull out of the show ?
Can’t these brainiacs figure these things out for themselves???
Fritz says
More like a porn star than a rapper if you watch her “show”. Then again… rap is the “style” of “music” that tends to call all women “hos and bitches” anyway…