Earlier this month, it was announced that Nicki Minaj would be headlining the Jeddah World Fest in Saudi Arabia, but after fans made her aware of pressing human rights concerns, she decided to drop the performance altogether.
Now, in an attempt to save the concert, organizers have added some of the biggest names in entertainment to the line-up, just days before the event.
Janet Jackson, Chris Brown, 50 Cent, Future and Tyga are set to perform on Thursday at the King Abdullah Sports Stadium, where they will be sharing the stage with previously announced acts, like Liam Payne and Steve Aoki.
According to USA Today, the Human Rights Foundation wants entertainers to pull out of the concert because of the country’s oppressive laws against women and the LGBT community. However, Thor Halvorssen, president of the organization, says that the performers have “chosen money over morals.”
Last week, Minaj addressed her decision to pull out of the concert in an official statement, citing that she’s “better educated” on issues that plague her core fan base.
“After careful reflection, I have decided to no longer move forward with my scheduled concert at Jeddah World Fest,” Minaj said. “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.”
