- Iggy Azelia, a singer known for explicit online image sales, performed at a Saudi concert discussing women’s empowerment, while her tight clothing ripped on stage.
- The incident stirred controversy in conservative Saudi Arabia, questioning the government’s decision to host a performer promoting idolatry, feminism and liberalism in a nation with a deep Islamic history.
The Saudi 2030 vision entails diminishing reliance on oil, prompting an expansion of the arts and entertainment sector.
Iggy Azelia, a 33-year-old singer and mother, who also maintains an OnlyFans account where she has lucratively sold her naked images online, received an invitation to perform at a concert in Saudi Arabia. She spoke about women’s empowerment during her Saudi concert. This was noteworthy considering the distinct perception that Saudi Arabia holds in the Western world.
In a statement shared on her social media platform, she remarked, “My concert was cut short because either my pants ripped or they just couldn’t handle my message of female empowerment.” Despite subsequently removing the post, the news had already disseminated widely.
During her performance, Azelia’s attire proved to be so constrictive that her trousers tore. She was compelled to wait on stage until assistance arrived with a replacement garment. It was at this juncture that she began discussing topics of female empowerment and liberalism, an irony underscored by the apparent disempowerment she experienced in that moment. The circumstance was compounded by her reliance on the sale of explicit images, a far cry from empowerment.
In her lyrics, she said:
“Lord, lemme know if you got this, Preaching about prophets, It ain’t no one man can stop us, Bow down to a Goddess, bow down to a Goddess, bow down to a Goddess, It ain’t no one man can stop us, Bow down to a Goddess, Goddess! Got it?”
Saudi Arabia, characterised by its conservative Islamic heritage, raises questions about its decision to host such a performance. Moreover, such an artist. The issue at stake is more than feminism and liberalism—it involves the propagation of shirk (associating partners with Allah) which is the gravest sin a Muslim can commit. Considering the nation’s deeply rooted Islamic history, this decision prompts reflection on the government’s trajectory and the resolute moral deterioration it is fostering.
