Beyonce is facing criticism after accepting a $24 million payday for her performance at the new Dubai hotel Atlantis the Royal on Saturday, amid the anti-LGBTQ policies of United Arab Emirates.
The Grammy-winning star’s outing in the area ‘casts a shadow over her support for lesbians and gay people,’ according to Bev Jackson, the co-founder of the British advocacy group LGB Alliance.
‘Beyoncé is a huge icon for many gay people,’ Bev Jackson told The Telegraph Sunday. ‘LGB Alliance is deeply therefore disappointed that Beyoncé has agreed to give a lucrative concert in Dubai, where same-sex sex acts are a criminal offense, potentially punishable by death.’
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The latest: Beyonce is facing criticism after accepting a $24 million payday for her performance at the new Dubai hotel Atlantis the Royal on Saturday amid the anti-LGBTQ policies of United Arab Emirates. She was pictured at the event Saturday
The Houston native, 41, performed a full concert live for the first time in four years in a one-hour concert at the new facility, at one point being hoisted 16 feet in the air at the hotel’s Skyblaze fountain.
Beyonce at one point on Saturday performed the song Brown Skin Girl with her daughter Blue Ivy, 11. While efforts were made to restrict filming of the exclusive concert, some clips leaked on social media over the weekend.
Her newst album, Renaissance, which she performed during the set, was dedicated to her uncle Jonny, who identified as gay and suffered a battle with HIV.
She previously honoured her uncle during her 2019 GLAAD Media Awards acceptance speech, when she called him “the most fabulous gay man I’ve ever known” and highlighted his life with HIV.
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The Houston native performed a full concert live for the first time in four years in a one-hour concert at the new facility
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The Grammy-winning star’s outing in the area ‘casts a shadow over her support for lesbians and gay people,’ according to Bev Jackson, the co-founder of the British advocacy group LGB Alliance
‘He was brave and unapologetic during a time when this country wasn’t as accepting,” she said at the queer-centric event, where she received the group’s Vanguard Award.
‘Witnessing his battle with HIV was one of the most painful experiences I’ve ever lived. I’m hopeful that his struggles serve to open pathways for other young people to live more freely. LGBTQI rights are human rights.’
But things aren’t so forward moving in the United Arab Emirates, where Dubai is, as LGBTQ+ people face legal challenges for their sexual orientation.
Many were quick to call out Beyonce for her support of the LGBTQ+ community and the seeming snub by performing in the country.
Beyonce stuns at Dubai hotel opening in a ‘$24million performance’
A number took to Twitter to question why the wealthy Crazy in Love singer agreed to perform under the controversial circumstances, regardless of the finances involved.
‘When you’re that rich .. largely, if not entirely, through the fierce loyalty of LGBTQ+ fans – what amount of money is simply too much to turn down to perform in a homophobic country?’ one user said.
Another user suggested, ‘Beyoncé isn’t a LGBTQ+ ally when she’s performing for money in Dubai and she literally doesn’t need a penny of it.’
RuPaul’s Drag Race star Kitty Scott-Claus also jumped in on the Twitter bandwagon, penning: ‘Hi I have a question.. can someone explain why everyone was cancelling David Beckham the other month but now celebrating Beyoncé for performing in Dubai? One rule for one and one for another?’
David Beckham caused controvery amongst fans while promoting the Qatar World Cup in 2022, which was boycotted by many as a stance against their LGBTQ+ laws.
Controversial: David Beckham caused controvery amongst fans while promoting the Qatar World Cup in 2022, which was boycotted by many as a stance against their LGBTQ+ laws
While many others agreed as they questioned why the FIFA World Cup faced such backlash, but Beyonce appears to have been applauded for her performance.
Another user replied: ‘Both paid millions to turn a blind eye and promote a barbaric regime. £20mn in Beyonce’s case… same energy’.
Others questioned the notion that Beyonce was a true ally to the community in the wake of the weekend outing.
‘Too much’: Many were also frustrated at the massive payout Beyonce was reportedly given for the performance
‘So wait, lemme get this straight,’ one user said. ‘@Beyonce comes out with a whole album dedicated to the LGBTQ community and then goes to perform for the first time in years in Dubai?! The same Dubai that’s vehemently homophobic…?
One user said, ‘You cannot say you’re an ally to the LGBTQ+ community when you take money from a country that KILLS people for being gay. S*** doesn’t work like that. I am talking about Beyoncé.’
Said another person, ‘Let’s be honest now beyonce doesn’t give a f*** about lgbtq+ rights, she saw a fat cheque and took it. it’s a shame that so many gay male fans of hers are so delirious that they’re defending her performing there too.’
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A number of fans took to Twitter to question why the wealthy Crazy in Love singer agreed to perform under the controversial circumstances, regardless of the finances involved
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Others questioned the notion that Beyonce was a true ally to the community in the wake of the weekend outing
