Jennifer Lopez Sorry for Performing for Dictator Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov
July 1, 2013 by Emma Reynolds
Uh oh! Jennifer Lopez has received some major backlash in the past few days over the controversial concert she performed for Turkmenistan dictator, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. The singer travelled to Turkmenistan to perform a concert for the dictator’s birthday, something which she has now publicly apologized for.
Turkmenistan is one of the most repressive countries in the world and is far from being on the same level as other countries worldwide that don’t suffer human rights issues. Lopez’s rep said that “Jennifer would not have attended” had there been prior knowledge about any human rights issues. She was, of course, getting paid for this kind of performance, contradicting her work with Amnesty International’s programs in Mexico. Lopez is an advocate for stopping violence against women, yet the money she received from the concert seemed to make her forget all that.
Other performers such as Beyonce, Elton John, Sting, Seal, Nelly Furtado, and 50 cent, have performed in countries with dictators and awful human rights laws in place. Those artists all donated the money they earned to charity after performing. Carey has since said that “artists must be accountable” and “do research” before performing in countries that treat their citizens poorly.
The event Lopez performed at was hosted by the China National Petroleum Corporation and was in no way a political event. But this isn’t the first time she has performed in a controversial country. In 2012, Lopez performed at a concert in Russia, also receiving backlash for that, too. Lopez’s rep has apologized on her behalf, but still no word from Lopez herself.