Justin Bieber overcame with controversial performance despite calls for a boycott

Despite the calls for Justin Bieber to cancel his performance in Saudi Arabia, the pop star who went through the show. Bieber, 27, performed a string of his biggest hits at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the site of the Saudi F1 Grand Prix. There were many calls for him to withdraw from the show, including an open letter from Hatice Cengiz, the fiancée of the late Saudi critic. Jamal Khashoggi.

Behind-the-scenes footage from Bieber’s concert shows the “Sorry” singer getting excited about performing for his fans there. His orchestra included performances of “Deserve You,” “Somebody,” “Hold On,” and other hits, reports TMZ. On Saturday, Bieber’s scene with his wife, Hailey Bieber, in Saudi Arabia also emerged. Hailey wears a mask and cap, but Bieber is clearly recognizable. Bieber doesn’t mention the trip on his Instagram page, but Hailey posted a video of Bieber performing in Her Instagram Story.

Last month, TMZ discovered an advertising campaign from the Human Rights Foundation in Los Angeles that attempted to prevent Bieber from performing in Saudi Arabia. A banner is placed on a van parked outside the Microsoft Theater, where the American Music Awards are held. A banner read “Bieber, Your Saudi Arabian Boss. Get it right, cancel”. Another read, “It’s not too late to say sorry. Don’t sing for the dictator of Saudi Arabia.”

In her open letterCengiz wrote to Bieber that canceling his show in Saudi Arabia would “send a strong message to the world that your name and talent will not be used to restore the reputation of a the regime killed its critics.” She also reminded Bieber that his invitation came from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “Nothing of any significance happened in Saudi Arabia without his consent, and certainly not such an important and flashy event,” Cengiz wrote.

Khashoggi, 59, is a journalist who has published columns in Washington Post criticize the Saudi regime. He was killed by 15 agents of the Saudi government in Istanbul in 2018. Crown Prince Mohammed has claimed to be unaware of the operation, but US intelligence reports released by President Joe Biden shows that the prince has approved the operation, report Related press. Saudi Arabia had a trial, with five people involved in Khashoggi’s murder sentenced to 20 years in prison, and another to 10 years. Two others were ordered to serve seven years in prison, reports NBC News. The names of these people were not released and the trial was criticized by a United Nations investigator.

Since Khashoggi was killed, pop stars scheduled to perform in Saudi Arabia have been asked to avoid performing there. Mariah Carey performed there, despite calls for a boycott. In July 2019, rapper Nicki Minaj canceled her Jeddah appearance. “After careful consideration, I have decided not to proceed with my scheduled concert at Jeddah World Fest,” Minaj said. Billboards at that time. “While I want nothing more than to bring my show to the fans in Saudi Arabia, after better educating myself on these issues, I believe it is important for me to made clear her support for women’s rights, the LGBTQ community, and freedom of expression.”