Fans Criticize Beyoncé For $24 Million Dubai Show, Daughter Blue Ivy Joins On Stage

Beyoncé is facing criticism after performing a private concert in Dubai for a crowd of A-list attendees. The star reportedly made $24 million for the show which marked the opening of the luxury hotel Atlantis The Royal.

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Some fans are conflicted about the performance because of the country’s strict laws against same-sex relationships. Homosexuality is punishable by the death penalty in the United Arab Emirates.

Despite the singer’s latest album, Renaissance, being a tribute to “black queer culture,” she accepted the large sum to perform in the Emirate’s capital.

No beef but I’m struggling to understand why Beyoncé, who has half a billion dollars, would accept 20 million dollars to make her debut performance of the Renaissance album, a record which lifts heavily from queer culture, in Dubai, a country where LGBT rights aren’t recognised.

— douglas greenwood (@douglasgrnwd) January 22, 2023

“It seems like a really misguided choice from her,” music journalist Abigail Firth told BBC. “She’s obviously a multimillionaire anyway. She didn’t really need to do this, she didn’t really need the money.”

Notoriously controversial New York City restaurateur Keith McNally had some harsher words for Beyoncé in a now-deleted Instagram post, writing that next time she came to dine at Balthazar, he’d give her a “table next to the kitchen.”

As videos have leaked from the performance, fans have been torn between praising her for her talent – and that of her daughter Blue Ivy, who joined her on stage briefly – and criticizing the decision to accept a check for the Dubai gig. Many were excited to see Bey on stage again, as she hasn’t performed live since 2018. She opened the show with a cover of Etta James’ “At Last.” Her set list included hits from her past albums including “XO,” “Crazy In Love,” “Beautiful Liar” and a rendition of “Drunk In Love” for the finale that has gone viral for her vocals.

This woman's voice is a literal instrument!!!!!! #BeyonceInDubai #beyonce #Dubai pic.twitter.com/mdmQTDmAV4

— QweenB_ (@OnleQueenB) January 21, 2023

Although some have said Beyoncé “sold out” for doing the show, some have jumped to her defense. Television personality TS Madison, who is transgender, told TMZ she supports the star’s decision to perform in Dubai.

“People go to Dubai for many different reasons, and a lot of LGBTQIA people go to Dubai for a lot of those reasons,” she said. “And Beyoncé went there for some of those same reasons. She went there to make her money. Everybody that loves Beyoncé and everybody that knows Beyoncé knows that Beyoncé loves the community, and not just loves the community, she dedicated an entire album which is the album of the year, to her fans, to the people that she loves.”