Rod Stewart Turns Down ‘Lucrative’ Payday To Perform In Saudi Arabia

Rod Stewart, 78, turned down a “lucrative” performance in Saudi Arabia in order to “shine a light on the injustices” in the country.

On Thursday, the musician shared in an Instagram post, “I’m grateful that I have a choice whether or not to perform in Saudi Arabia. So many citizens there have extremely limited choices – women, the LGBTQ community, the press. I’d like my choice not to go… to shine a light on the injustices there and ignite positive change.”

He signed the post off with his name.

A representative for Stewart issued a statement: “Sir Rod Stewart has once again turned down one of the most lucrative concert offers of his career to perform in Saudi Arabia. Sighting his ‘moral compass in making the decision,’ Stewart chose to refuse the offer over the kingdom’s long history of human rights abuses, including discrimination against women and LGBTQ+ people, and of silencing its critics.”

In 2022, Amnesty International released a report that detailed issues with country’s human rights record. This included a June 2022 Personal Status Law that came into effect in the country that “enables discrimination against women, including through male guardianship.”

The human rights organization’s website explains that the law says that women are required to have a male guardian’s permission to marry and are expected to oblige to their husband. The law also doesn’t give men and women equal rights in matters related to children if parents were to separate.

Stewart had previously turned down the chance to perform in Qatar based on social justice issues.

In November 2022, Stewart told The Sunday Times that he was offered over $1 million to play the show in Qatar, but turned it down.

“It’s not right to go,” he said. “And the Iranians should be out too for supplying arms. Tell you what, supporters have got to watch out, haven’t they?”