Nicki Minaj is pulling out of a concert in Saudi Arabia because she said she wants to show support for women’s rights, gay rights and freedom of expression. “After careful reflection I have decided to no longer move forward with my scheduled concert at Jeddah World Fest,” Minaj said in a statement.
“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,” she said. Minaj was originally scheduled to headline the concert on July 18.
Other performers include former One Direction member Liam Payne and DJ-producer Steve Aoki. The Human Rights Foundation issued a statement last week calling for Minaj and other performers to pull out of the show.
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