Jennifer Lopez is facing backlash after reportedly being paid to attend and perform at a hotel launch in ‘anti-gay’ Dubai on Saturday.
The 54-year-old superstar – long considered an ally of the LGBTQ+ community – caused a stir after “pocketing $5 million” for her attendance at the launch of the One&Only One Za’abeel hotel, according to reports The sun.
The luxury hotel is located in the United Arab Emirates, which has strict laws against homosexuality, with consensual same-sex sexual activity punishable by imprisonment.
Taking to her Instagram Stories, Jennifer posted a clip from the star-studded show, where she stood on stage in a dazzling purple jumpsuit and performed alongside Mark Ronson in front of an audience that included Vanessa Hudgens and Idris Elba.
“It is very sad that an LGBTQ ally like Jennifer Lopez is willing to put money before human rights,” gay rights activist Peter Tatche told the newspaper.
Jennifer Lopez is facing backlash after reportedly being paid to attend and perform at a hotel launch in ‘anti-gay’ Dubai on Saturday
The 54-year-old superstar – long considered an ally of the LGBTQ+ community – caused a stir after “pocketing $5 million” for her attendance at the launch of the One&Only One Za’abeel hotel, according to The Sun
“Her actions will collude with the regime’s homophobia, misogyny and general human rights abuses – that’s not the kind of thing Jennifer Lopez supports. She shouldn’t go.’
He further claimed that the Dubai regime is “using her to project a more liberal image.”
‘It is a cynical exercise and it is a shame that she goes along with it.’
Before the mini-concert, JLo arrived at the Aelia restaurant in the city resort One Za’abeel wearing a black satin dress by Giambattista Valli.
She was joined by other celebrities like Jessica Debruyne, boxer Ramla Ali, Georgia Coleridge, and Chanel Ayaan.
Following their red carpet appearance, celebrities gathered at a private event in the sky, hosted at The Link, Dubai’s newly established lifestyle destination, 100 meters above the ground.
The response appears to be inconsistent with JLo’s reputation as a supporter of LGBTQ+ rights.
When administrators banned gay teen Nat Werth from giving a valedictory speech at his graduation in 2019 after learning he planned to address his sexuality, she invited him to attend one of her shows in Milwaukee.
The Dubai hotel is located in the United Arab Emirates, which has strict laws against homosexuality, with consensual same-sex sexual activity punishable by imprisonment
On her Instagram Stories, Jennifer posted a clip from the star-studded party, where she stood on stage in a dazzling purple jumpsuit and performed alongside Mark Ronson in front of an audience that included Vanessa Hudgens and Idris Elba.
“It is very sad that an LGBTQ ally like Jennifer Lopez is willing to put money before human rights,” gay rights activist Peter Tatche told the newspaper.
The response appears to be inconsistent with JLo’s reputation as a supporter of LGBTQ+ rights
Lopez blows a kiss to the audience after receiving the 2013 Ally for Equality Award at the Human Rights Campaign’s 17th National Dinner in Washington on October 5, 2013
In 2014, she was honored with the Vanguard Award from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) for her dedicated advocacy for gay rights.
That same year, she expressed her support in a tweet celebrating the legalization of same-sex marriage.
‘Congratulations England and Wales. Gay marriage is legal today,” she wrote.
This is not the first time Jennifer has performed in Dubai.
In March 2024, the singer held an epic concert there during the Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse.
“Thank you Dubai for a great night #Meydan #DWC14,” she tweeted after the show.
