Alicia Keys & Pharrell criticised for Women’s Day event in Saudi Arabia

[Teletubby 137,289]

Alicia Keys headlined the third edition of Women to Women summit on Friday where she was also joined by Pharrell Williams and discussed how “women are pushing the culture forward in Saudi Arabia and around the world” in Jeddah.
“I am thrilled to be back on stage, this time in Jeddah, performing in a place I have never performed in before, and in a way I never have in this region,” Alicia kicked off her speech.
“I’m also so inspired to connect in a meaningful way with the amazing women there to discuss cultural, creative and boundary-pushing narratives we are collectively and individually leading. In light of International Women’s Day, it’s the perfect time to discuss important issues affecting us,” she added.

However, her efforts sparked backlash from a human rights activist Peter Tatchell who called on Alicia and Pharrell to boycott Saudi Arabia.

"Alicia Keys and Pharrell Williams should not be performing in Saudi Arabia. It's a dictatorship that persecutes women, LGBTs and religious and ethnic minorities.

”No artists should be going to Saudi unless they speak out publicly to demand women’s freedom and an end to other human rights abuses in the country, including the freeing of all political prisoners,” he said.

”Women are in jail because of the country’s sexist laws. The regime murdered and dismembered the journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

”It is total hypocrisy for Saudi Arabia to host Alicia Keys for an International Women's Day event when the regime jails advocates for women's equality. I'm shocked that Alicia Keys is colluding with this whitewashing of Saudi misogyny.”

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[elijahfan 25,016]

Some people's morals truly stop where their bank accounts start.

Edited March 9, 2024 by elijahfan

[Didymus 34,379]

I'm always conflicted about things like this. Women are pushing Saudi culture forward and Middle Eastern feminism is a gorgeous, important phenomenon that I believe can inspire many people around the world in so many ways. Same for queer movements who need our support, not us indirectly boycotting them because of our "morals".

And with the US importing hundreds of thousands of barrels of petroleum from Saudi Arabia every single day, is it really meaningful to call out Alicia friggin Keys specifically for being hypocritical She's a pop star. Selling out is basically her entire career objective lol.

Edited March 9, 2024 by Didymus

[faysalaaa 3,105]

So if a Palestinian singer performs in America, does this mean she supports the American government genocide? lol

Edited March 9, 2024 by faysalaaa1