Related Articles
Zedd Pairs Up With Lady Gaga for Tour, Possible Collaboration
For DJ/producer Zedd, getting into Lady Gaga's inner circle
took just a touch. "I introduced them in London at a Beats event,"
Interscope A&R representative Dave Rene says. "I said, 'Gaga, I
want you to meet Zedd.' She just reached her arm out and touched
him and said, 'Let's work together.'"
Lady Gaga Denied Permit for Indonesia Concert
Lady Gaga's 'Simpsons' Song: Watch
See Mother Monster make her Springfield debut.
Lady Gaga 'Fake Rolex' Thailand Tweet Draws Local Backlash
"We are more civilized than you think," a local DJ told the provocative pop star.
Lady Gaga
canceled her sold-out show in Indonesia after Islamist hard-liners
threatened violence, claiming her sexy clothes and provocative
dance moves would corrupt the youth. The controversy was a blow to
the predominantly Muslim country's reputation for combining free
speech and democracy with a mostly moderate brand of the faith.
Fans
were devastated, despite the promoter's offer of full refunds. Some
accused police -- who refused to issue a permit over concerns about
security -- of buckling to the will of a small group of thugs.
The
planned "Born This Way Ball" concert has been on-again-off-again
from the start. But on Sunday, it was final, said Minola Sebayang, a
lawyer for Big Daddy, the promoter of the June 3 show.
Lady Gaga's Tour Controversy Spark Billboard Chart Gain
"It's
unfortunate," he said. "But with threats if the concert goes ahead,
Lady Gaga's side is calling it off. This is not only about Lady
Gaga's security, but extends to those who will be watching her."
Indonesia,
a secular nation of 240 million, is often held up by the U.S. and
others an example of how democracy and Islam and can coexist. In
many ways they are right. Since emerging from dictatorship just over
a decade ago, sweeping reforms have resulted in direct elections,
while vastly improving human rights and freeing up the media. But a
small extremist fringe has become more vocal -- and violent -- in
recent years, attacking Christians and members of other religious
minorities, transvestites, atheists and anyone else deemed
"immoral."
The most notorious group, Islamic
Defenders Front, called Lady Gaga a "messenger of the devil" and
vowed to turn out at the airport by the thousands if she tried to
step off the plane. Others said they bought tickets so they could
wreak havoc from inside the 52,000-seat stadium in the capital,
Jakarta.
Police responded by denying the
necessary permits. Then, after public outcry, they said they'd
reconsider -- but only if Lady Gaga agreed to tone down her act.
Instead, she pulled the plug on what was supposed to be the biggest
stop on her Asian tour.
Michael Rusli, head
of Big Daddy, promised "Little Monster" fans full refunds. But that
provided little consolation to people like 25-year-old Johnny Purba.
"This only shows to the world how weak security forces are in this
country, how police are afraid of a bunch of hard-liners," he said.
"Gaga's two-hour show will not hurt Indonesian Muslims. For God's
sake, she is not a terrorist!"
Around 50
others, dressed up like the pop diva, performed a mob flash dance at
a shopping mall in the capital, Jakarta, to some of her biggest
hits. Hard-liners, however, were ecstatic. "This is a victory for
Indonesian Muslims," said Salim Alatas, one of the leaders of the
Islamic Defenders Front, or FPI. "Thanks to God for protecting us
from a kind of devil."
Earlier, Murhali Barda, a
spokesman for the group, said supporters had purchased more than
150 tickets to the concert. He'd posted a picture on his Facebook
page of a man hiding his identity with a turban and sunglasses and
holding a $50 ticket to the "Ball."
"We have
gotten Lady Gaga tickets," the caption said. "Not to watch but for
us to enter." "Our target is to stop the concert," he wrote,
providing little more detail. "We would force them off the stage but
not harm the audience."
No comments:
Post a Comment