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Jennifer Lopez Responds to Criticism Over Serenading Repressive World Leader

Jul 1, 2013  •  Post A Comment

After a performance Saturday in which she serenaded the leader of the former Soviet republic of Turkmenistan, singer Jennifer Lopez apologized for the show, with her representative saying she wouldn’t have performed in the country if she had known it had human rights issues, reports People.

The statement said that the event was hosted by the China National Petroleum Corp., and that it wasn’t political in nature. But the country’s leader, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, attended the show. He has been criticized by Human Rights Watch and other organizations, which describe his rule as "among the most repressive in the world," the story notes.

According to media reports, the performance included Lopez singing "Happy Birthday" to Berdimuhamedow in response to a last-minute request.

"Had there been knowledge of human rights issues any kind, Jennifer would not have attended," her publicist said. Lopez’s performance fee wasn’t disclosed.

One Comment

  1. Her agent doesn’t do the most basic PR check?

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