RIYADH – Hollywood superstar Nicki Minaj will be performing at Saudi Arabia this month. Prior to the event, a storm is being triggered on social media as the kingdom loosens decades-old restrictions on entertainment.
Minaj, known for her profanity-laced lyrics and raunchy music videos, will perform in the western city of Jeddah on July 18, organisers of the ongoing Jeddah Season cultural festival announced on Twitter on Tuesday.
The headline act, to be televised on MTV, will also feature British musician Liam Payne and American DJ Steve Aoki, local media reported.
“She (Minaj) is going to be actively on her social media, she’ll be posting right from the stage in Jeddah and at her hotel in Jeddah,” Robert Quirke, an event organiser, was quoted as saying by the Arab News daily.
Nicki’s upcoming concert is exciting for many fans but some are frowning upon the event. Many fans are titling Nicki Minaj’s hip-hop songs as ‘provocative’ and ‘sexual’.
https://twitter.com/Abdulmato5/status/1146393855039877120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1146393855039877120&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.samaa.tv%2Flifeandstyle%2F2019%2F07%2Fnicki-minajs-saudi-arabia-concert-confuses-angers-fans%2F
https://twitter.com/Mina18268369/status/1146515786988736512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenews.com.pk%2Flatest%2F494112-nicki-minaj-to-perform-in-saudi-arabia-twitter-unleashes-massive-uproar
https://twitter.com/Joyce_Karam/status/1146462985789083648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1146462985789083648&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.samaa.tv%2Flifeandstyle%2F2019%2F07%2Fnicki-minajs-saudi-arabia-concert-confuses-angers-fans%2F
https://twitter.com/CyrusShares/status/1146474327044448256
According to Saudi law, the festival will be alcohol and drug-free and 16+. The event is set to take place at the King Abdullah Sports Stadium in the Red Sea city.
The BBC reported that Minaj’s concert is the latest example of Saudi Arabia loosening restrictions on entertainment to promote the crown prince’s professed efforts to liberalise his country and diversify its economy.
Last year, Saudi Arabia became more open to compromising on some laws — removing the 35-year theatre ban and giving women the right to drive.
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