Jennifer Lopez slammed for performing at ‘anti-gay’ Dubai hotel launch

Jennifer Lopez, the pop icon and actress, has faced criticism from gay rights activists and fans for reportedly accepting $5 million to attend and perform at a hotel launch in Dubai, where homosexuality is illegal and punishable by imprisonment.

The 54-year-old star, who has been a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and has received several awards for her advocacy, performed at the opening of the One&Only One Za’abeel hotel on Saturday, February 10, 2024, in front of a star-studded crowd that included Vanessa Hudgens, Idris Elba, and Emma Raducanu.

Lopez, who wore a dazzling purple jumpsuit, sang some of her hits, such as Waiting for Tonight, On the Floor, and Let’s Get Loud, and collaborated with DJ Mark Ronson for the event, which was hosted by the luxury hotel chain One&Only Resorts.

However, her appearance at the hotel launch sparked outrage among some of her fans and gay rights activists, who accused her of betraying the LGBTQ+ community and endorsing the homophobic regime of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the hotel is located.

The UAE, a federation of seven emirates, has strict laws against homosexuality, based on Islamic Sharia law, and does not recognize the rights of LGBTQ+ people. According to Human Rights Watch, consensual same-sex sexual activity can result in imprisonment, deportation, fines, or even death penalty in some cases.

Peter Tatchell, a prominent gay rights activist, told The Sun that Lopez’s performance was “a cynical exercise and it’s shameful that she is going along with it.”

He said: “It’s very sad that a long-time LGBTQ ally like Jennifer Lopez is prepared to put money before human rights. Her performance will collude with the regime’s homophobia, misogyny and generalised abuse of human rights - that’s not the kind of thing Jennifer Lopez supports. She shouldn’t be going.”

He added: “The Dubai regime is using her to project a more liberal image, but it’s a facade. Behind the scenes, they are cracking down on dissent, jailing human rights defenders, and persecuting LGBTQ+ people.”

Some of Lopez’s fans also expressed their disappointment and anger on social media, calling her a “sellout” and a “hypocrite”.

One Twitter user wrote: “Jennifer Lopez is performing in Dubai, a country where being gay is illegal and punishable by death. How can she claim to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community and then take money from a homophobic government? It’s disgusting and disrespectful.”

Another user commented: “I used to love Jennifer Lopez, but after seeing her perform in Dubai, I’m done with her. She doesn’t care about the LGBTQ+ community, she only cares about money. She’s a hypocrite and a sellout.”

However, some of Lopez’s fans defended her, saying that she was not responsible for the laws of the UAE and that she was spreading joy and positivity through her music.

One fan tweeted: “Jennifer Lopez is not a politician, she’s an entertainer. She’s not endorsing the UAE’s laws, she’s performing for her fans. She’s not a hypocrite, she’s a humanitarian. She’s not a sellout, she’s a legend.”

Another fan posted: “Jennifer Lopez is performing in Dubai because she loves her fans and wants to share her music with them. She’s not supporting the UAE’s government, she’s supporting the people. She’s not a traitor, she’s an ally.”

Lopez has not responded to the backlash, but she shared some photos and videos of her performance on her Instagram account, where she has over 200 million followers.

She captioned one of the posts: “Thank you Dubai for an amazing night! I had so much fun with you all! You are beautiful and incredible! I love you!”

Lopez, who has won several awards for her music and acting career, has also been recognized for her philanthropy and activism. She has supported various causes, such as HIV/AIDS awareness, women’s rights, children’s health, and disaster relief.

She has also been a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, and has received the Vanguard Award from GLAAD, the Ally for Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign, and the Icon Award from the Trevor Project for her efforts.

She has also produced and starred in the TV series The Fosters, which featured a lesbian couple raising a family, and the film Hustlers, which featured a diverse cast of women, including a transgender actress.