Nicki Minaj sparks backlash after teasing Qatar World Cup song with Maluma and Myriam Fares
(Getty/NickiMinaj)
Rapper Nicki Minaj has come under fire for teasing a song in support of the 2022 World Cup despite host country Qatar’s cruel anti-LGBTQ+ stance.
Minaj took to her Instagram story to post a cryptic teaser of three pairs of football boots. On each boot is the name of one of the song’s three performers, with the other two being Maluma and Myriam Fares.
Fans have been quick to react to the news, pointing out Nicki Minaj has a large queer fanbase, with none of these people able to safely visit Qatar to watch the World Cup.
(@nickiminaj/Instagram)
“Hi @nickiminaj, not sure if you’re aware but your LGBTQ+ supporters from Qatar are in danger… Qatar was voted as the one of the worst places in the world to be gay. Homosexuality is illegal and punishable by imprisonment”
Nicki Minaj has not responded to the criticism.
Another person simply wrote: “Of course that lady supports Qatar.”
supporting a homophobic country?? we are not surprised
— phaya 👑 (@foklorian) November 13, 2022
a song for a homophobic country? not surprised— miss sparkling (@hijackya) November 13, 2022
Myriam Fares is a Lebanese singer, who has previously been criticised for a relatively provocative style of entertainment in Arabic culture.
But details on any World Cup song are scarce, and no official release date has been confirmed.
The competition starts on Sunday (20 November) despite the majority of UK fans opposing Qatar hosting due to its horrific LGBTQ+ rights record. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has even described the choice of country as a “mistake”.
I better not see one artist perform there cus they all have LGBTQ+ fans— Lancy de Pointe du Lac 🇵🇸🇿🇦🇨🇩🇾🇪 (@Orlashile) November 13, 2022
Nicki Minaj doing a song for the Qatar cup when that country is violently homophobic and against the rights of LGBTQ+ is something, especially considering majority of her fanbase are apart of that community. https://t.co/396iv74fiR— Cuntology 🤷🏽♀️ #TheReporter (@Bardiology_) November 13, 2022
https://twitter.com/samlc91/status/1591936683599368192
Qatar’s ambassador to the UK has said LGBTQ+ fans visiting the country can “hold hands”. However, he clarified they should be “mindful” of “public displays of affection” at the World Cup.
Under Qatar’s Penal Code 2004 queer people can be jailed for up to seven years for having sex, if convicted. And same-sex relationships are punishable by death under Sharia law.
Pop star Dua Lipa recently blasted rumours she would be performing at the World Cup, writing: “I will be cheering England on from afar and I look forward to visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host the World Cup.”
