Iggy Azalea’s Riyadh Controversy: Between Blasphemous Lyrics and a Wardrobe Malfunction
In a recent controversy, Australian artist Iggy Azalea stirred the pot during her concert in Riyadh, causing a wave of backlash in the Islamic world. Despite the outrage caused by her perceived disrespect towards religious sentiments on stage, Azalea announced a new invitation to perform in Saudi Arabia by the Entertainment Authority, headed by Royal Advisor Turki Al-Sheikh.
Iggy Azalea, during her response to a fan on the platform “X” (formerly Twitter), addressed the anger directed at her in the Arab world, stating, “I just received a call about another new offer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” Emphasizing her indifference to the criticism, she added, “From my perspective, the show was a huge success!”
The artist’s recent Riyadh concert, part of the Gamers’ Season events, was marked by her performance of the provocative song “Just Wanna,” accompanied by explicit gestures. The lyrics of the song, performed on stage, contained phrases that many perceived as blasphemous, leading to widespread condemnation.
In a twist, Azalea defended herself by asserting that the concert organizers, the Entertainment Authority, had pre-approved her song list. She highlighted this in a tweet, saying, “They approved the specific love list. Very funny,” suggesting they were aware of the content she would perform.
Further controversy arose when Azalea’s pants tore during her performance, revealing sensitive parts of her body. This incident, combined with the contentious song, led many activists to describe the concert as “debauched,” expressing their displeasure at such events being sponsored and supported by the Saudi regime.
All concerts in Saudi Arabia are coordinated and invited by the Entertainment Authority, headed by Royal Advisor Turki Al-Sheikh, implying the tacit approval of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
