Alicia Keys Accused of Pulling Out of World Cup Performance at the Last Minute
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Former The Voice coach Alicia Keys is being accused of pulling out of a performance at the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony just days before the event. According to the choreographer making the claim, the choice wasn’t related to the host country of Qatar.
Alicia Keys Accused of Pulling Out of World Cup Performance
The Daily Mail reports that Barbarana Pons, the choreographer of the World Cup opening ceremony, recently spoke to Catalan radio station RAC1 about Keys. Pons reportedly shared that she thought Keys was performing “until yesterday.”
Keys allegedly “resigned at the last minute.” This was reportedly due to creative differences rather than an objection to Qatar’s anti-LGBTQ policies. Pons explained that she had been “fighting” with the star over the use of a piano, since “everything is measured to the millimeter.”
The singer was never confirmed to be performing at the World Cup this year, and she hasn’t spoken publicly about the situation. The opening ceremony is scheduled for this Sunday, November 20.
SEE ALSO: ALICIA KEYS TEASES CHRISTMAS ALBUM DRESSED AS ‘SANTA BABY’ SINGER EARTHA KITT
Celebrities Have Refused to Perform in Qatar
Some celebrities have shared their decision not to perform in the World Cup opening ceremony due to Qatar’s treatment of LGBTQ people. That includes Rod Stewart, who said he turned down a $1 million offer to perform, adding, “It’s not right to go.”
Dua Lipa also recently denied rumors that she would be performing at the event, writing on Instagram that she has never “been involved in any negotiation to perform” and adding, “I look forward to visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host the World Cup.”
One artist who did choose to lend her talents to this year’s World Cup celebration is Nicki Minaj, who just released the song “Tukoh Taka” with Maluma and Myriam Fares. Minaj received backlash for her decision to take part in the song.
