Pressure from human rights activists may have fueled the decision by Nicki Minaj to walk away from a reported 7-figure sum to perform at Saudi Arabia’s ‘Jeddah World Fest’ (as we reported here), but the same can’t be said for the likes of 50 Cent, Future, Chris Brown, and Pop royal Janet Jackson as the four are among the big stars readying show-stopping performances at the festival.
The website for the event, set for King Abdullah Sports Stadium on Thursday (July 18), sent the Web into a frenzy after it posted photos of the newly added acts.
Look inside to see who else is set to join them:
Thor Halvorssen, president of the Human Rights Foundation who sent the lengthy letter to Minaj (seen by clicking here), also criticized the new list of entertainers set to perform at the festival. Taking to ‘The Associated Press,’ Halvorssen said it was “profoundly distressing that they have chosen money over morals.” Additionally, he stated:
“These individuals constantly make public statements of support for LGBT rights and women’s rights, except, apparently, when a seven-figure check is attached. The hypocrisy is breathtaking. Principal apparently matters to them far more than principles.”
As of time reported, representatives from Jackson, 50 Cent, Future, nor Brown have responded to the hoopla. The quartet of Urban acts joins previously announced performers Steve Aoki and Liam Payne.
“It’s clear that, after losing Nicki Minaj on the basis of the Saudi regime’s atrocious human rights record and their treatment of women and the gay community, the Crown Prince has chosen to spend whatever it takes to give the appearance that things are normal and that this is just another music concert. Except it isn’t,” Halvorssen concluded in his statement.
[photo credit: Getty Images]
Under the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman there has been a push to improve global public relations for Saudi Arabia, a country renown for its conservatism as well as repressive treatment of women and minorities. In the last year alone large sums of money have been shelled out to invite big music stars to the Middle Eastern land to perform including Mariah Carey, David Guetta, Enrique Iglesias, and many more.