Sacha Baron Cohen’s The Dictator is a fun flick, unless you happen to be trapped inside an oppressive dictatorship ruled by the constant threat of violence. Which brings us to Turkmenistan, where Jennifer Lopez just played a private, incredibly well-paid gig for Turkmenistan dictator Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.
Berdimuhamedow, whose regime started in 2006, has been flagged as one of the most oppressive dictators by Human Rights Watch. Internet connectivity and social media are mostly banned in the country.
The gig featured a full slate of singing, dancing, and JLo classics, capped off by a Marilyn Monroe-esque, “Happy Birthday Mr. President” rendition (with JLo in traditional Turkmeni garb). The Guardian reported that Lopez was paid roughly $1.4 million for the performance, held at the exclusive Avaza resort on the Caspian Sea.
That last tribute to Mr. Berdimuhamedow was apparently requested by the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), a free-spending event sponsor. Lopez ‘graciously obliged’ according to her press representative.
In response to growing controversy over the performance, Lopez and her publicity team professed unawareness of a long list of human rights abuses.
I wonder if Gurbanguly if a big personal fan of J-lo or if she was just the first artist greedy enough to take their offer.
In other news, most US pop artists have performed for the illegal medicine & drug festival also known as Super Bowl…
Hey Paul, have a look at this:
AT&T patents P2P content tracking system
http://www.google.com/patents/US8458172
By the way, you should have a form so that we can submit tips/news/links to you. Your webmaster should know how to set it up.
And here I always thought J.Lo had such integrity.
and Paul Simon recorded in South Africa befor ethe fall of Apartheid.
We all have to eat. Maybe the Happy birthday thing was a bit rich, but how about a list of artists that have played for OBomber and the Bush family. They have killed way more kids than this little dick(tator) ever has…. Think about it.
You soon forget where your coming from when you get greedy.
how jLo can u get!