Lady Gaga‘s Born This Way Ball has hit a snag in Jakarta after Islamic fundamentalists threatened violence because the “Judas” singer’s outfits and dance moves “could corrupt youth” reports the AP.
Initially, authorities in Indonesia had denied Gaga a permit to perform but they’ve indicated they’d change their minds if she’d tone down her show.
It’s the latest conflict plaguing the singer as she takes her tour through Asia, where Christian fundamentalists have already attacked her show in the Philippines and South Korea.
Gaga’s team has said she’d rather cancel a show than alter it to suit local morals. “We’ll skip them,” said Gaga’s manager, Troy Carter, according to the AFP. “We play the show as it is. It’s a very specific show, it’s a very specific audience.”
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In Jakarta, Gaga has suggested she may perform solo to spare her crew any repercussions. She tweeted this week:
“The Jakarta situation is 2-fold: Indonesian authorities demand I censor the show & religious extremist separately, are threatening violence. If the show does go on as scheduled, I will perform the BTWBall alone.”
It’s hardly the first time a pop star has had to deal with a repressive society: This summer Madonna, who’s face similar situations, will be performing in St. Petersburg, where pro-gay communication is outlawed. For her part, the Material Girl has promised to address the issue from the stage, law or no law.
In the interview Carter indicates that Gaga’s allegiance is to her fans, who expect her to stand her ground, and that the issue is bigger than the just one performer:
“I don’t think this has anything to do with Gaga as much as it has to do with—you know, it’s just a big cultural and generational gap that is happening over there. You are dealing with a few different things: you are dealing with politics… with religion. It’s a little bit more complicated than her changing her outfits.” heart but it’s true.”
Photo: Giulio Pugliese
post-god
Just do it Gag! My government wouldn’t do anything when you are on stage. They have the tinniest ball and the biggest mouth. and they are busy scheming the most blatant way to steal our tax money.
Belize
@post-god: I’m not really a fan of Lady Gaga. But I love how she basically just swooped into the Philippines to perform not once but twice (because of ticket sales) showing the religious nut jobs in the country that their hold in the general public is finally loosening up thanks to their hypocrisy.
post-god
@Belize: Not a little monster myself but performance of this magnitude is a rarity in Indonesia. I have bought return air tickets months ago and will fly to Jakarta from another island on June 3rd expecting a world class entertainment but yeahh… finger crossed. Moslem hardliner in Indonesia is more of a thug kicking and screaming asking for retribution and maintaining agendas from their Arabic financial backer.
james
The Fail this way tour is horrible.
Anthony
@james: The show is only ten dates in and it has already grossed over $40,000,000, so it must not be that bad.
The group threatening Gaga are the Muslim equivalent of the Westboro Baptist Church. There are religious nutjobs who just want money and attention. I’m Gaga is not backing down and showing them that they can’t control the country just because they don’t agree with something.
@post-god: Hope you have a good time. The only people criticizing the show so far are people (Madonna fans) who haven’t actually seen the show. The show is getting great reviews all around and the show in Jakarta is supposed to not only be her biggest show to date, but also the biggest show of its kind in Indonesian history.
J Stratford
I have friends in Asia who have seen it and it was awesome.
Eat that religious fundamentalists! East Asia is about the Tao, the middle way, live and let live. Your arrogance and hate and your foreign backers the ones that should get out. Yes I am talking about you – Spanish and Vatican Catholics in Philippines, American Christian Missionary Talibans in Sokor, and Arab Jihadist Islamists in Indo.
SKOC211
@james: The Fail This Way Tour! Did you come up with that one all by yourself? Or are your panties all in a bunch because it’s on track to become one of the highest grossing tours of all time?
darkorient
@post-god: Heya, not Lady Gaga’s fan here. But I feel for you. Like I said before, for us Indonesians is not about Lady gaga herself, but what a letdown it was to see that your government and police force turn into worthless chicken shit when it comes to dealing with extremists. Let’s say it together now: Fuck you, President Yudhoyono!