Nicki Minaj has canceled her Saudi Arabia show following criticism from human rights activists

Karwai Tang/Getty Images Nicki Minaj arrives for the 2019 Met Gala celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2019 in New York City

After criticism, Nicki Minaj has pulled out of a music festival in Saudi Arabia, citing her commitment to to women’s rights, LGBTQ communities and freedom of expression.

Minaj was scheduled to headline the Jeddah World Fest, a music and performance festival, on July 18.

Saudi Arabia is a conservative kingdom where people in some public places are segregated by gender and same-sex relationships are criminalized.

This doesn’t make any sense. After the Sumfest performance in 2011 where she was fined $10 USD for using expletives on stage, she tweeted “I had the time of my life at Reggae Sumfest… Jamaica I fell in love tonight.”

Why is she comparing Jamaica to Saudi Arabia?

Nicki made a statement about her decision canceling the show in Saudi Arabia.

“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.”

About The Author

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Discover more from

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading